Tips for Choosing the Best Dahlia for Your Garden
With thousands of varieties available, choosing a dahlia (or three) for the garden each year can be an overwhelming task. But if you know which characteristics to look for, shopping gets a lot easier. All dahlias are cold hardy in zones 8 to 11 and grow best in full sun and well-drained soil. Find out what makes a dahlia right for these common garden situations, along with a few favorites that fit the bill.
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4 Different Types of Dahlias
1. Best dahlias to grow mid-border
Not too tall and not too short, midsize varieties stand 2 to 4 feet tall, just right for filling mixed beds and borders. Blooming prolifically from midsummer through fall, these dahlias help bridge the gap between early- and late-season perennials.
- 'David Howard': Fully double 4-in. formal decorative apricot blooms, dark foliage; 30 to 40 in. tall
- 'Creme de Cassis': Bicolor violet and dark eggplant waterlily flowers measure 4 to 6 in. wide; 30 to 40 in. tall
- 'Fascination': Semidouble 4-in. peony-type hot pink flowers, dark foliage; 30 to 36 in. tall
Dahlia growing tip
To encourage bushy plants with plenty of buds, pinch dahlias when the central stalk has three to four sets of leaves.
2. Dahlias that make all-star cut flowers
What makes a great cutting dahlia? A lengthy vase life; long, sturdy stems; and upward-facing blooms that aren't too heavy. Ball and pompon dahlias have tightly packed petals that resist bruising and give them a particularly long post-harvest vase life.
- 'Cornel': Ruby red 4-in. ball-shaped flowers; 40 to 48 in. tall
- 'Maarn': Rusty orange 3- to 4-in. ball-shaped flowers; 48 to 54 in. tall
- 'Genova': Lavender and white ball-shaped flowers with dark central eyes measure 2 to 4 in. wide; 30 to 40 in. tall
Harvest tip
Harvest flowers when they are almost fully open and the petals are still firm; dahlias don't open much more after they've been cut.
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3. Dramatic dinnerplate dahlias
With extra-large flowers that measure upward of 8 inches in diameter, dinnerplate dahlias serve up major impact in the garden. Because of their size, you'll want to position dinnerplate varieties in a place where they won't overwhelm smaller, more delicate plants. These top-heavy flowers often need staking.
- 'Spartacus' — Globe-shaped red flowers measure 9 to 10 in. wide; 50 to 60 in. tall
- 'Otto's Thrill' (in photo) — Coral pink 10-in.-wide flowers; 36 to 48 in. tall
- 'Café au Lait' — Lush 10-in. flowers range from blush pink to creamy ivory; 36 to 48 in. tall
Good to know
A wall, fence or hedgerow provides a natural windbreak and backdrop for dinnerplate dahlias' showstopping blooms.
4. Compact dahlias for containers
Compact varieties, including the ever-popular Melody® and Gallery® series that stay under 2 feet tall, are perfect for pots and planters. Choose a container that is at least 12 inches wide and deep — even short-statured dahlias produce an extensive root system that requires plenty of well-drained soil and room to grow.
- 'Gallery Art Deco' — Multicolor coral, orange and red stellar flowers measure 4 to 5 in. wide; 16 to 24 in. tall
- 'Dracula' — Bold red 3-in. daisy-like single flowers, dark foliage; 10 to 12 in. tall
- 'Park Princess' (in photo) — Clear pink cactus form with spiky, 4-in. flowers; 22 to 24 in. tall
Container tip
Containers typically dry out faster than in-ground beds. Aim to water planter-bound dahlias deeply every day or two during the hottest weeks of summer.
Dahlia sources
- Hudson Valley Seed Co.: hudsonvalleyseed.com — 845-204-8769
- Longfield Gardens: longfield-gardens.com — 855-534-2733
- Swan Island Dahlias: dahlias.com — 800-410-6540
