Dahlias are brilliant for providing food for Bees, Butterflies and other insects in autumn.
Plants with single flowers are closest to the original species (like this yellow dahlia here) and are best of all. They provide a nice flattish landing pad for the insects which means that all the pollen and nectar is easy for them to find.
I must admit that I do grow lots of other Dahlias with many more petals because I find them very attractive but it's clear to see that they won't be much use to most garden wildlife. Earwigs like to hide inside the folded petals but these fancy cultivars are pretty much useless as a food source for insects. In the vase full of Dahlias above you can see that a passing bee has landed on the only flower with an open centre. The others just aren't suitable as a food source.
Did you know that butterflies like to feed on rotting fruit too? So if you don't have suitable flowers for them you can offer them a few pieces of apple or blackberries instead.
Do you grow Dahlias in your garden?
I hope you are enjoying a lovely mild autumn in your garden too.
Happy Gardening Gillian.
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