Dahlia 'Marlene Joy'

Cactus and semi-cactus dahlias bear fully double flowers with pointed looking petals that curve in tightly for about half of their length.

Dahlia 'Marlene Joy' is an attractive cactus dahlia bearing spiky flowers with white petals with contrasting pink tips. Blooms reach 20cm across, making them large enough to provide a dramatic impact in the garden. It's perfect for growing in a mixed herbaceous border, and makes an excellent cut flower.

For best results, grow Dahlia 'Marlene Joy' in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Deadhead regularly and feed with a potash-rich fertiliser to prolong flowering. Lift tubers after the first frosts and store them in a cool, dry situation until March. Then pot them up and keep them in a temperate greenhouse before planting out in late May.