Exclusive new Dahlia varieties

When Mr Fothergill’s talent-spotter Tom Stimpson noticed some striking new dahlias on the breeder’s trial plots late last summer he secured exclusive rights to six of the varieties. Bangkok is a decorative type in tones of rich copper and fiery red, Cheverny is a lemon yellow, cactus-flowered strain. Chunghong is also cactus-flowered, with rich pink heads, Brenda flowers in shades of warm apricot and orange and pink and Valentina’s pink suffused with yellow heads appear striped and marbled. All varieties grow to a height of around 4ft (1.2m) and produce blooms up to 6in (15cm) in diameter.