This is an illustrated guide to varieties, cultivation and care, with step-by-step instructions and over 160 beautiful photographs. This is a practical guide to growing and caring for dahlias, with instructions for planting, pruning and propagating, and how to deal with common pests and diseases. It features a fully illustrated directory of over 50 different varieties of dahlia, including single, anemone, collerette, waterlily, decorative, ball, cactus, semi-cactus, pompon, fimbriated, green-eyed and clock-faced. It shows you how to buy dahlias and how to grow and propagate them successfully from seed, tubers, shoots and cuttings. Dahlias are a well-established classic for many gardeners. Their variety of form and hue enables them to be at home in gardens of any size. Easy to grow despite their exotic appearance, dahlias rarely fail to produce impressive, beautifully formed blooms. This pretty handbook contains advice for growing a wide variety of dahlias, from simple single-flowered types to balls with tightly rolled petals. It includes an illustrated directory of over 50 types, with descriptions of their foliage, blooms, height and growing conditions. Be it perfection of flowers that you seek, or just a glorious profusion of brightness in the garden, there is something for everyone in the world of dahlias.