White Swan Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: White Swan
• Type: Decorative
• Colour: Pure white with creamy centres
• Flower size: 15cm across
• Height: 120cm
• Spread: 60cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Yes. Well-structured blooms hold their shape on the stem and in a vase
• RHS AGM: No
• 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

White Swan: A Pure White Dahlia That Holds Its Shape Perfectly

There are white dahlias that are almost white, or white with pink hints, or white that shifts to cream as the flower ages. White Swan is none of those. It's a clean, decisive white with a slightly creamier centre, and it stays that way from first petal to last. No blushing, no fading, no surprises.

The flowers are 15cm across, beautifully structured decorative blooms with neatly arranged petals that hold their shape whether on the plant or cut and in a vase. At 120cm with excellent dark green foliage, White Swan makes a strong backdrop plant. The foliage is particularly good: rich and full, providing the kind of dark-green-to-white contrast that makes white flowers look their whitest.

It needs staking at this height. The stems are good but 15cm flowers at 120cm catch wind. A sturdy cane or ring support put in at planting time will keep things upright.

Where White Swan Works Best

White is the universal mixer. Plant White Swan behind Tartan (blackcurrant-and-white bicolour dinnerplate, 110cm) for a dramatic pairing where the pure white picks up the white in the bicolour. Dark Spirit (near-black decorative, 90cm in front) gives the sharpest possible light-and-dark contrast. For a softer scheme, the shell pink of Gerrie Hoek (waterlily, same height) beside White Swan creates a gentle gradient. Japanese anemones and white Cosmos are natural late-summer companions.

Why buy from Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. 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, Which? Best Plant Supplier, and real people on the phone in Somerset. Browse our full decorative dahlia range or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does White Swan compare to Cafe au Lait Supreme?

Cafe au Lait Supreme is a dinnerplate: 25cm flowers, buttercream-white, ruffled and informal. White Swan is a mid-sized decorative: 15cm flowers, pure white, neatly structured. Supreme is bigger and bolder. White Swan is more precise and easier to manage in a mixed border. Both are white. Both cut well. Different scales, different moods.

Is White Swan good for cutting?

Very. The 15cm flowers hold their structured shape well in a vase, and the pure white colour is versatile in any arrangement. It works as a focal flower or as a neutral between bolder colours. Cut only fully open blooms, condition stems in hot water for an hour, and expect five to six days of vase life.

Will White Swan grow in a pot?

At 120cm it's tall for a container. You'd need a large pot (at least 35cm), staking, and shelter from wind. For a white dahlia that's genuinely container-friendly, Boom Boom White (ball, 100cm) or Gallery Art Fair (compact decorative, 30cm) are better choices. Our container guide covers the options.

Does the white colour stay clean?

Yes. Some white dahlias blush pink or fade to cream as they age. White Swan holds a consistent pure white with just a slightly warmer cream at the centre. It's one of the more reliable whites in the range.

Does White Swan need staking?

At 120cm with 15cm flowers, yes. Put a sturdy stake or support ring in at planting time before the foliage gets in the way. The stems are strong but the flowers catch wind. Full growing and aftercare advice is in our dahlia growing guide.