Dahlia Myrtle’s Folly

Dahlia ‘Myrtle’s Folly’ is a joyful, late-summer showstopper with blooms that look like they’ve been painted in sunshine. The flowers are a glowy pink and yellow bicolour, with warm buttery yellow tones blending into rosy pink to create a soft, luminous effect that practically lights up the border. Each bloom is full of texture and movement, giving the plant that irresistible “cutting garden” charm—perfect for adding colour outdoors and filling vases indoors too.

Flowering from midsummer right through to the first frosts, ‘Myrtle’s Folly’ is a generous performer. Keep deadheading (or pick regularly), and it will keep sending up fresh flowers for months.

Planting Instructions

When to Plant:

Plant Dahlia tubers in spring. For the earliest flowers, start tubers in pots indoors from March to April, then plant out once the risk of frost has passed. If planting directly outside, wait until late spring when the soil has warmed.

Where to Plant:
Choose a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil. Dahlias are ideal for mixed borders, cutting gardens and patio containers. They love warmth and perform best in full sun.

How to Plant:

• Depth: Plant tubers about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) deep, with the old stem (or growing point) facing upwards.
• Spacing: Space plants 60–75 cm (24–30 inches) apart, as large-flowered varieties benefit from good airflow.
• Soil Prep: Enrich the planting area with well-rotted compost or manure. In heavy soil, improve drainage with grit.

Watering:
Water after planting. Once shoots appear and growth is underway, keep soil evenly moist, especially in dry spells. Avoid waterlogging. Container-grown Dahlias may need watering daily in hot weather.

Aftercare Tips:

• Pinch out the growing tip once plants are around 30 cm tall to encourage bushier growth and more flowering stems.
• Stake plants early, as the large blooms can make stems top-heavy in wind and rain.
• Deadhead regularly (or cut for the vase) to keep plants flowering until autumn.
• After the first frost blackens the foliage, lift tubers and store dry and frost-free over winter, or protect in the ground with a thick mulch in milder areas.

Top Tip:
Those glowy pink and yellow blooms look incredible alongside deep purples or dark foliage—try pairing with Salvias or bronze-leaved plants to make the bicolour tones really sing.

Plant Details

Flowering Period:

July - October (until first frosts)

Height:
36–48" (90–120cm) (approx. depending on conditions)

Position:
Full sun

Tender Perennial:
Overwinter tubers frost-free in the UK