Dahlia 'Blue Boy'

While a truly blue dahlia does not exist, 'Blue Boy' is one of the closest approximations, offering beautiful lavender-mauve flowers with a distinct cool blue undertone. This decorative-type dahlia produces medium-sized, fully double blooms with neatly arranged petals. Reaching a height of about 90cm to 1 metre, it is a versatile plant for the middle of a border, blending harmoniously with silvery-leaved plants or providing a cool contrast to hotter pinks and purples. In the UK climate, its soft tones are particularly luminous on overcast days. It provides an abundance of stems for cutting, and the more you cut, the more it flowers. It requires a sunny position and consistent moisture during the growing season. Like all tuberous dahlias, the plants should be protected from slugs in early spring and the tubers stored safely away from frost during the winter months.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Well-drained, rich loam.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.