Moor Place Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Moor Place
• Type: Pompon
• Colour: Deep purple-burgundy (described as maroon by some, claret by others)
• Flower size: 4 to 7cm across
• Height: 110cm
• Spread: 60cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Excellent. Strong stems, weather-resistant, five-day vase life
• Weather tolerance: Very good for a dahlia
• Exhibition: Yes. "Perfect for exhibiting" per BBC Gardeners' World
• RHS AGM: No
• Origin: Bred by Alan Newnham, UK, 1955
• Sold as: Single tubers, hand-graded, Dutch first-class quality
• Plant outdoors: March to July, when soil reaches 15°C (typically May in most of the UK)
• Delivered: From March. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Moor Place: Seventy Years on the Show Bench and in the Cutting Garden

Alan Newnham bred Moor Place in 1955. Seven decades later it's still on the show bench, still in the cutting garden, still in demand. BBC Gardeners' World calls it "perfect for exhibiting." Floret describes it as having "weather resistance" as a key strength. Some things just endure.

The flowers are a deep purple-burgundy, small and almost perfectly spherical, 4 to 7cm across. The colour is richer than most pompons, somewhere between claret and maroon depending on the light. Each bloom is smothered in tightly curled petals spiralling to the centre. The plant produces them in vast numbers on strong stems from July to the frosts.

At 110cm it's tall for a pompon, but the small, light flowers don't catch wind the way bigger blooms do, and the stems hold up well in rain. It's one of the dahlias we'd point you towards if weather resilience matters. The five-day vase life is good for a pompon, and the deep colour works beautifully mixed with paler cut flowers.

Companions for Moor Place

Deep purple needs contrast to avoid disappearing. Plant with Small World (white pompon, AGM, same form but opposite colour) for a dark-and-light pompon pairing. The warm paprika of Brown Sugar (ball, 90cm in front) lifts the dark tones without clashing. For a cutting patch, combine Moor Place with Preference (soft apricot semi-cactus, long vase life) and the shell pink waterlily Gerrie Hoek for three completely different flower forms in complementary colours.

Why Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. We discard undersized tubers so you get a clump with viable eyes, ready to grow. Delivered by next-day courier from March, with our one-year plant guarantee, Feefo Platinum Service Award, and gardeners in Somerset on the end of the phone. Browse our other pompon dahlias or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Moor Place good for showing?

One of the best pompons for the show bench. The tight, symmetrical form and rich colour are exactly what judges look for. BBC Gardeners' World specifically recommends it for exhibition. Disbud to one flower per stem for the most perfect blooms, and grow in rich, well-fed soil.

How weather-resistant is Moor Place?

Very, for a dahlia. The small, tight flowers don't hold rainwater, the stems are strong, and the lightweight blooms don't snap in wind. Floret specifically notes weather resistance as a key strength. It's not indestructible, but in a wet British summer it'll keep performing when bigger-flowered varieties are struggling.

Will Moor Place grow in a pot?

At 110cm it's tall for a container. It'll work in a large pot (at least 35cm across and deep) with staking, but it's really designed for borders and cutting beds. For a deep-coloured pompon that's more compact in a pot, Rocco (fuchsia-purple, 75cm) is a better fit. Our container guide covers the options.

How does Moor Place compare to Rocco?

Both are deep-coloured pompons, but the colour and scale differ. Moor Place is larger (4 to 7cm, 110cm tall), deeper burgundy, and has a longer track record (1955 vs. modern introduction). Rocco is smaller (5cm, 75cm tall), brighter fuchsia-purple, and more compact. Plant them together at different heights and the two purples, one dark and one vivid, play off each other beautifully.

What's the best way to use Moor Place in flower arrangements?

The deep colour makes it an anchor bloom in a mixed arrangement. Pair it with something pale: Cafe au Lait (huge milky-coffee ruffles), white cosmos, or Arbatax (white with pink edges). The small pompon scale means Moor Place won't fight for attention the way a dinnerplate would. Add grasses or seedheads for texture. Five days in a clean vase with fresh water. Full growing advice in our dahlia growing guide.