If you think dahlias are simply a late-summer flower, think again. With their extraordinary range of colours, shapes and sizes, they can bring some of the most spectacular colour to the garden just as the seasons begin to turn.
This autumn, Hever Castle is delighted to welcome one of Kent’s best-known plantsmen, Steve Edney, for two special mornings celebrating these flamboyant late-season favourites.
Steve is the co-founder of The No Name Nursery in Sandwich, Kent, which he runs with his wife and fellow plantswoman Louise Dowle. The nursery is home to an eclectic collection of plants, with a particular focus on perennials and varieties that have something special to offer in the garden. It also holds four National Plant Collections, including one dedicated to dark-leaved dahlias.
Steve’s passion for plants has been built on decades of hands-on experience. Before establishing The No Name Nursery, he spent 17 years as head gardener at the award-winning Salutation Gardens in Sandwich, developing a reputation for thoughtful, naturalistic planting and a deep knowledge of the plants he grows.
At Hever, Steve will bring that experience to the garden with a special presentation followed by a guided tour of the dahlias growing in the Castle gardens.
Steve’s presentation will explore the incredible diversity of dahlias, from bold dinner-plate blooms to smaller, more delicate flowers, and the many colours and forms in between. He’ll share practical advice on growing and caring for dahlias, as well as ideas for using them to keep a garden full of interest well into autumn.
And there’s no better place to explore the subject than Hever’s own gardens, where visitors can see the dahlias for themselves and discover how they work as part of the wider seasonal planting.
The guided tour will offer the chance to look more closely at the plants at their autumn best, while hearing Steve’s thoughts on planting combinations, seasonal interest and what makes a garden really sing at this time of year.
For anyone who loves gardening – whether you’re an experienced grower or simply looking for inspiration for your own borders – it promises to be a fascinating and informal morning.
Steve’s visit forms part of Autumn Colour, running from 28th September to 1st November 2026, when the gardens take on a rich tapestry of autumn colour.
Come along, discover more about one of the garden’s most spectacular late-season plants and see Hever’s gardens through the eyes of a plantsman who has spent his career growing, experimenting and finding new ways to make plants shine.
Steve Edney Dahlia Presentation and Tour
Wednesday 7th & Thursday 8th October 2026
11.30am
Festival Theatre / Dahlia Border
Included with admission
Whether you already grow dahlias or have never planted one, Steve’s passion is sure to leave you looking at these autumn stars in a whole new light.
Find out more about Autumn Colour here
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Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
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Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
