Nescio Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Nescio
• Type: Pompon
• Colour: Blood red. Consistent, vivid, unwavering
• Flower size: 6.5cm across
• Height: 100cm
• Spread: 50cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Yes. Long stems, small enough for corsages and table arrangements
• RHS AGM: No
• Origin: Introduced 1974
• 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

Nescio: The Blood-Red Pompon Named "I Don't Know"

Nescio is Latin for "I don't know." Nobody seems entirely sure why a bright blood-red Dutch pompon dahlia from 1974 got a Latin philosophical disclaimer as a name. But it stuck, and fifty years on, it's one of the most popular reds on the market.

The flowers are 6.5cm across, sitting right on the pompon-ball borderline, with tightly quilled petals packed into a dense, almost perfectly spherical bloom. The colour is vivid, clean blood-red, no purple undertones, no fading, no mystery. The stems are long, the foliage intense green, and the plant produces flowers in quantities that verge on absurd. At 100cm it's compact enough for pots and the middle of a border.

For cutting, Nescio is ideal. The small, perfectly formed flowers work in corsages, headdresses, table vases and full bouquets. They're one of the few dahlias you can use in a buttonhole without it looking like you're carrying a small hedge.

What to Plant with Nescio

Blood-red works with almost everything. In a dark scheme, plant Nescio alongside the near-black Dark Spirit and the velvety maroon waterlily Sam Hopkins for a rich, layered planting. For warmth, the burnt orange of David Howard (dark foliage, same height) and the terracotta ball Brown Sugar create an autumn palette. For contrast, pair with the milky white pompon Small World (AGM holder), same form, opposite colour. Plant at least three together for the best effect.

Why buy from Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded by us. We reject 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 and the team in Somerset if you need help. Browse our other pompon dahlias or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nescio a pompon or a ball dahlia?

The border between the two is 5cm. Nescio's flowers are 6.5cm, which technically makes it a miniature ball rather than a pompon, though you'll see it listed as both. The form is the same: tightly quilled petals spiralling into a globe. Our types of dahlias guide explains the classifications.

Can I use Nescio as a buttonhole or corsage flower?

One of the best dahlias for it. The 6.5cm flowers are small enough to wear, the tightly packed form holds without wilting, and the clean red colour works with formal and informal outfits alike. Pick a fully open bloom, condition the stem in hot water, trim short, and it'll last the day.

Can I grow Nescio in a pot?

Yes. At 100cm with small, lightweight flowers, it stays manageable in a container of 10 to 15 litres. Feed fortnightly from June. Our dahlias in pots guide has the detail.

Why is it so prolific?

Pompon and miniature ball dahlias tend to produce more flowers than larger types because the plant's energy isn't concentrated on a few enormous blooms. Nescio is one of the most prolific in the range. Regular deadheading keeps the supply going. If you don't deadhead, the plant will slow down as it redirects energy into seed. Full seasonal care in our growing guide.

What does "Nescio" actually mean?

Latin for "I don't know." It's a surprisingly common word in philosophy, from Socrates' claim of knowing nothing to the Dutch literary movement of the same name. Why someone gave it to a blood-red pompon dahlia from 1974 remains, appropriately, unknown.