Rip City: Semi-Cactus Dahlia Tubers

Dark and dramatic, Rip City is one of the best dahlias you can grow, and it is the flower that sparked the craze for near-black blooms. It is a stunning semi-cactus dahlia with velvety deep wine red flowers, getting darker towards an almost black heart. The 10-15cm double flowers have long, narrow, pointed petals that recurve for more half their length and appear ruffled. It's great to use as a cut flower, either on its own or with other intensely coloured dahlias for instant impact.

A strong grower, reaching 1.2m, with upright flowers held on long, strong stems above dark green foliage from mid-July until the first frosts.
Browse our other Cactus Dahlias or our full range of Dahlias here.

Features

Colour: Deep red petals with black heart
Foliage: Dark green divided leaves
Flower Size: 10-15cm
Type: Semi-cactus Dahlia type
Cutting: Yes
Height/Spread: 1.2m x 1m
Flowering: July to November
Outdoor Planting Months: March to July

Growing Rip City Dahlias

All dahlias do best in deep rich soil with good drainage in a sunny spot. If it is windy they will need staking. They are greedy, thirsty plants so will need watering in dry spells, and they will always flower that little bit better if there is a bit of soluble food in the watering can once every couple of weeks.

It is generally more convenient to put support stakes in at planting time, rather than leaving it until there is foliage in the way.

Planting Companions for Rip City

You need a bold hand to use Rip City at its best - try planting it in the middle of a sunny border in groups of at least five for a massed effect, surrounded by white flowers or grey foliage.

Did You Know?

Bred in the US and introduced in 1994, it has been grown in Monet's famous garden at Giverny, France.

If you ignore seed, Dahlias can be planted at three stages: as tubers, rooted cuttings and pot-grown plants.

Tubers can be planted at any time from March onwards. The hole should be at least double the diameter of the tuber laid out on the ground. Incorporate about 25% well rotted compost and if drainage is in any way doubtful then add plenty of horticultural grit as well. Plant one tuber per hole, leaving 60-80 cms between plants (depending on final size) and make sure the tuber is covered with 10-12 cms (4-5") of soil. This is important as it will insulate the tuber against frosts in March-May as they will take a couple of months to show.

Rooted cuttings, which are available from early April onwards, will need to be potted up and kept in a sunny and frost free place until they are ready to be planted out in mid May. Their treatment then is the same as for tubers except they are planted level with rather than 10 cms below the surrounding soil level.

Pot grown plants are not delivered until June, and are then planted out immediately in the same way as an established rooted cutting.

The more you deadhead, the more flowers you'll get.

Read our full terms and conditions here.

Delivery: Our standard delivery charges are:

Small box (Orders containing only seedlings or rooted cuttings) £7.20 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Standard box (Bareroots up to 1.2m) £11.40 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £60 inc VAT)
Large box (Pots up to and incl. 7.5L) £15.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £100 inc VAT)
Trees & Hedging (Bareroots & trees 1.2m+) £18.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £120 inc VAT)
Pallets (Root balls, large pots, trees etc) £60.00 including VAT per order (FREE For ORDERS Over £240 inc VAT)

*Surcharges to the Highlands and Islands still apply.

Because couriers sometimes experience delays, we schedule delivery by week, not by day. Therefore, please plan your planting day for the weekend at the end of the delivery week or for the week following delivery, at the earliest.
We will email you the day before your plants are due to arrive.

Payment: We do not charge your card until we begin to prepare your order for packing.

Guarantee: If any plants die within a year, we will replace them. We only ask that you follow our planting & growing instructions and sent us clear photographs of the dead plants in situ, so we can help to make sure that the replacement plants succeed. You only pay for the delivery of the replacements.

Please note that our guarantee is void if there is a hosepipe ban in your area: your newly planted hedging must be watered in dry weather while it is establishing. The best way to water is very thoroughly every few days: at least once a week in summer if there is no heavy rain.

Our nursery has been supplying container grown and bareroot hedging plants to gardeners, farmers and town planners since 1949. Our website started in 2003, so we do understand the concerns that you may have about buying hedging plants online. If any of your plants are damaged when they arrive or if you are otherwise not satisfied with your order after you inspect it, please repackage it and contact us. We will give you a refund or send replacements and send a courier to come and collect the unwanted plants.

Shade	Full Sun
Soil	Good, Well Drained
Colour	Red/Crimson
Type	Tuber
Also Good	Repeat Flowering, Vase Life
Flowering	Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov

	Buy 3 or more plants and save

SIZES	1-2	3+
Tuber	Out of Stock - Ordering Now £3.84	Out of Stock - Ordering Now£3.19
	Prices include VAT

Rip City Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia Rip City (Semi-Cactus)

Rip City: Semi-Cactus Dahlia Tubers

Features

Growing Rip City Dahlias

Planting Companions for Rip City

Did You Know?

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

Weekend Wordsearch - Lavender

LATEST VIDEO

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Rip City Dahlia Tubers

Dahlia Rip City (Semi-Cactus)

Rip City: Semi-Cactus Dahlia Tubers

Features

Growing Rip City Dahlias

Planting Companions for Rip City

Did You Know?

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?

Weekend Wordsearch - Lavender

LATEST VIDEO

Sign up!

Bareroot planting is best done between October and April
Bareroot and potted - what's the difference?