The first F1 Hybrid Dahlia, Sunny Yellow producers large, double lemon-yellow blooms from early summer until frost. It is particularly early flowering. Of neat, bushy habit, it grows to just 45 cm (18in) and is splendid for large formal bedding displays. Sure to be equally popular with growers, parks and home gardeners alike.

In detail

Increasing numbers of professional growers have realised the attraction of dwarf dahlias to their customers in recent years. Easily raised from seed each year, such plants are now in great demand for summer bedding schemes owing to the attractive low-growing habit they possess. The 1988 Award Winner Dahlia Sunny Yellow is an F1 Hybrid of the highest quality, and the first of its kind to be offered commercially. It produces nice double, in lemon-yellow blooms that can easily measure 7 cm (3 ins.) in diameter. Plants are basal branching, thereby providing bushy growth, and have attractive dark green foliage. From a March sowing, plants can be had in bloom after ten weeks. Transplanted into 10 cm (4 ins.) pots, individual plants can be offered to customers at a premium. Its delightful and striking colour lends Dahlia Sunny Yellow to use by Parks Departments - a superb centrepiece for large beds. Sunny Yellow's height at maturity is 45 cm (18 ins.), although the first flowers appear at just 25 cm (10 in). Noted for its earlines, it should not be allowed to suffer form lack of moisture. Like all dahlias, it will thrive in an open, sunny position. Flowering continues until the plants are cut down by the autumn frosts.