There are not many people who breed plants as different as dahlias and sweet peas and clivias - in fact I can only think of one. Dr Keith Hammett, from New Zealand, is one of the world's leading plant breeders and his dahlias and sweet peas are widely grown. He also breeds Dianthus, Primula and Clivia. He was featured in the RHS magazine The Plantsman in December last year.
Here at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show I spotted Dahlia ‘Knockout', his latest, not on a nursery exhibit but amongst the plants used to decorate the Catwalk in Bloom marquee. It was only just coming into flower but it was obvious it's a really spectacular plant.
The foliage is prettily divided and an exceptionally dark mahogany black; the tips of the shoots are a little greener but soon develop the dramatic dark colouring. The single flowers are a vivid, almost fluorescent yellow, with faint slightly reddish veins all surrounding a chocolate eye.
Reaching about 80cm/32in in height, this is a great plant for containers or the summer border and the stems are long enough to cut. The contrast between the brilliant yellow flowers and the dark leaves is very impressive.
‘Knockout' was selected in 2002 from a batch of seedlings which were the result of crossing two unnamed dahlias that Keith had previously raised.
Dahlia ‘Knockout' is on sale at the Show in the Catwalk in Bloom marquee, but it's available from these RHS Plant Finder nurseries.