Dahlias come in a variety of heights and colors with brilliant blooms, which range from tiny to the size of a plate. Many are fragrant and I have found them to be one of the most rewarding of my garden endeavors. Dahlias grow from tubers and can be started successfully from seed, making them an inexpensive way to have an abundance of long-lasting blooms in the garden.
Devote an entire section of the garden to Dahlias or space them throughout your beds to intermingle with other plantings. Heirloom selections combined with new, shorter hybrids can produce a magnificent, descending display.
Simple Beauty
These low maintenance beauties last until autumn in my Zone 7 garden and contrary to popular belief, they do not have to be dug and stored for the winter here. My Dahlias have returned for years, producing the same colors and beauty as in previous years. Deadheading and water during dry times seems to be all these flowers need when planted in a sunny location. These hardy plants will fight to grow, one of mine was accidentally covered with a clump of Iris during its dormant time and it still made a great showing this year; sprouting from under the Iris clump.
Colder zones do require that tubers be dug and stored for winter. Wrap and store the tubers away from freezing temperatures, then re-plant after danger of frost is over. This allows the flower to change locations yearly, as the garden evolves.
Diversity of Dahlias
Dahlia petals may be petite and frilly, standard and smooth, or big and double, depending upon which specimen you choose. Dahlias have a range of names describing their attributes. Fireworks, pompom, cactus and dinner plate all refer to the assortment of Dahlia.
The diverse Dahlia includes short, bushy plants and five feet tall beauties, which may need to be staked on a trellis or other support. Part of a mixture packet I purchased resulted in burgundy stems with bright yellow blooms, glowing white blossoms on lime colored stems and a variegated pink flower with white swirls. Seeds may be purchased from seed companies and catalogs, but many of mine came from Wal-Mart.
Dahlias are native to Mexico, Central America and Columbia. More than 36 varieties are documented. Wikipedia advises of more than 20,000 cultivars of this fabulous specimen. It appears there is a Dahlia for every garden need. Keep them in mind when planting spring perennials and you too will come to love the adorable, diverse Dahlia.