Description

Waltzing Mathilda is a dahlia chosen for its warm, changeable colouring and its ability to make borders feel generous. The blooms are full and decorative, with layered petals that open in apricot and peach tones, often picking up soft pink shades and deeper edging as the flower matures. This gentle colour shift means you get a more natural, varied look through the season rather than a single flat tone.

For Irish home gardeners, it is a strong choice for sunny borders, cutting patches and large patio containers where warm colour is wanted from mid summer into autumn. It pairs well with bronze foliage plants and grasses, and it works nicely beside creams and whites if you want to keep the scheme lighter. For gardeners aiming for a more designed finish, plant in small groups rather than singly so the colour reads as a deliberate block.

Biodiversity note: because the blooms are full, pollinators may not access the centre easily. If you want better wildlife value nearby, plant single flowered dahlias or nectar rich companions close by so the bed supports insects as well as looking good.

Plant after frost risk has passed in full sun and free draining soil. Water evenly, feed once buds form, and deadhead to keep flowers coming. Lift and store tubers frost free after the first frosts. Supplied as single tuber prepacks in outers of 5.