The best dahlias to bring a pop of colour to your garden

The dahlia is about to take centre stage in our borders and it will grab the limelight until the first frost brings the curtain down.

No other flower will carry you through from summer into late autumn with as much pizzazz and vibrance.

The diversity of form, foliage and flower colour in dahlias is due to an octoploid tendency which has nothing to do with the sea bed.

New ones are constantly being raised and named by hobbyists and breeders.

The man-high, rich-purple Admiral Rawlings ’ isn’t disturbed at Old Wollerton Hall in Shropshire .

Leslie Jenkins peps up her colour-themed borders with dahlias.

Once established, dahlia can survive without being watered thanks to their tuberous roots.

Penhill Watermelon ’ is a cut-flower favourite, with large, sunset-tinted peachy pink urchin-like flowers that twist and turn at the tips.

Hillcrest Royal’ AGM has plenty of narrow quilled purple petals that appear to be infused with red ink.

Fire Mountain ’ chosen for its “incredible tarmac-black foliage, architectural shape and fire-engine-red blooms”.