Dahlias are tuberous-rooted perennials native to Mexico and Central America, prized by gardeners for their stunning, long-stemmed flowers that bloom reliably from mid-summer through fall. These aster-family hybrids come in nearly every color imaginable except blue, and have been classified into ten distinct flower forms ranging from simple singles to elaborate pompon and cactus types. Hardy in zones 7 through 10 (or 11 in milder climates), they grow 3 to 4 feet tall and spread 12 to 18 inches, reaching flowering size in about 75 days. Dahlias demand full sun and consistent moisture, along with regular attention to staking and deadheading, but reward dedicated gardeners with armfuls of exceptional cut flowers from summer through the first frost.
12
Full Sun
Moderate
7-11
48in H x 36in W
—
High
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Long, sturdy stems and showy blooms make dahlias the florist's dream and a magnet for butterflies and bees. They're prized as cut flowers because they hold up beautifully in the vase, either alone or mixed with other blooms. The color range spans bright yellows, reds, pinks, corals, and oranges, giving you endless creative combinations whether you're designing a cutting garden or adding drama to a mixed border. Deer leave them untouched, and their late-season bloom window extends your garden's color well into autumn.
Dahlias shine as cut flowers, valued by florists and home gardeners alike for their long stems and long vase life. They work beautifully in mixed bouquets or as show-stopping solo arrangements. In the garden, they serve as vibrant focal points in summer and fall borders, and their pollinator-friendly blooms support butterfly and bee populations throughout the season.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start tubers indoors in pots several weeks before your last frost date, then transplant outside after frost danger passes.
Transplant seedlings or tubers outside 1 to 2 weeks before the last frost date in organically rich, well-drained soil. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart.
Direct sow after frost danger passes, spacing seeds or tubers 12 inches apart.
Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous flowering and redirect energy into more blooms rather than seed production. Stake or support tall varieties to prevent wind damage, especially as plants mature to their full 3 to 4 foot height.
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“Dahlias arrived in Europe during the 16th century from their native Mexican and Central American homeland, where Aztec peoples had cultivated them for centuries. What were once simple, single-flowered plants underwent dramatic transformation through centuries of deliberate hybridization. By the 19th and 20th centuries, breeders had created an astonishing diversity of forms, colors, and sizes, organizing them into ten classifications to bring order to the chaos of hybrid variation. Today's commercial dahlias represent an enormous investment of horticultural ingenuity, and many gardeners in colder zones continue the tradition of lifting and storing tubers each winter, a practice that echoes the plant's journey from tropical origins to temperate gardens worldwide.”