Erich Ritter
Dahlias are truly stunning perennials in any sized flower garden. Their bushy forms fill borders, containers, and fence lines with mid- to dark green feathery foliage. The green contrasts nicely with dahlias’ outstanding blooms. Flowers delight in a broad spectrum of bright and pastel colors. The diameter of those happy blooms range in size from a petite two inches up to a full ten inches.
Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. This heritage gives them a wildflower-like appearance and disposition. Depending on variety, dahlias are hardy to US Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone three though most varieties will feel most at home in warmer climates similar to their native climate. In many regions throughout the US, dahlias are grown as annuals.
Some dahlia plants can grow to a very large 10 feet tall while some smaller varieties fit comfortably in a pot on a patio. Underneath dahlias lovely limbs lies a well kept secret. Dahlias’ tubers are not only edible, but they are said to be enjoyably tasty. If you’re looking for an edible tuber, do your research. Make sure the dahlia is for food production and NOT an ornamental bulb. Ornamental bulbs are often treated with chemicals.
Dahlias were once such a valuable food source that an East Coast Native American tribe cultivated a red double-flowering dahlia plant for 400 years only for the tubers. Recently, this particular variety of dahlia has been preserved and protected as an heirloom root vegetable. The comeback of these edibles has made for a light-hearted tiff amongst some gardeners. A few dahlia flower gardeners have questioned the good sense of those gardeners who would dare harvest dahlias for the tubers at the loss of those irresistibly captivating blooms.
HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR DAHLIAS
Dahlias will grow from seed, but they are most often grown from division. Tubers can be purchased online and at local nurseries. Once you’ve selected your favorite dahlias to plant, thoughtfully consider where you’ll grow them. Dahlias are easy to cultivate – especially when you honor their simple needs.
Dahlias love the sun, so plan a spot where they’ll receive plenty. They’ll grow best in rich, well-draining soil. And they love water, so make sure your dahlias get enough of it.
Dahlias will enjoy an early summer boost of nitrogen rich fertilizer followed by weekly feedings of potassium rich plant food beginning in mid-summer. These treats are a sure fire way to keep those blossoms bursting.
And speaking of blooming, you can expect to enjoy dahlias happy blooms from mid- summer until the first frost. Besides fertilizer, dahlias will produce the most flowers if you dead head. To dead head dahlias properly, don’t just pop the spent flower heads off of the stem. Track the spent flower stem down to the point where it meets the main plant. You might notice a little nodule just waiting to spring forth. It will – as soon as you cut the spent stem back just above that nodule.
Enjoy the long lasting blooms either on the plant outdoors or in a vase indoors. Dahlias make excellent single cut flowers or cut flower arrangements.
DAHLIA PESTS, DISEASES, AND PROBLEMS
In spite of a spunky disposition, they do have a few weaknesses. Pests that dahlias find particularly troublesome include slugs, snails, caterpillars, and spider mites. Diseases include powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots, and soft rot.
Many of these pest and disease problems can be thwarted with careful watering methods and proper spacing for good air circulation. And, dahlias play well with several plants such as white geraniums and salvia. Not only will these companion plants complement your dahlias’ beauty, they will fight off some of the pests that tend to bother dahlias.
DAHLIA VARIETIES
With dahlias’ wide range of plant and flower shape and size, there’s undoubtedly at least one dahlia or another to appeal to every flower gardener’s fancy. Here are a few noteworthy varieties to pique your interest in dahlias.
‘Fire Pot’ dahlia is a hardy, easy to grow cultivar. With bright pink and yellow flowers that resemble a water lily, this alluring eye catcher will brighten up your garden and your day.
‘Honka’ is one of the simplest dahlia flower types. With single, flat, petals this dahlia resembles a yellow star against its dark green foliage. ‘Honka’ is a warm weather friend.
‘Kidd’s Climax’ sports an astounding pink blended with yellow bloom that’s the size of a dinner plate. Butterflies can’t resist this dahlia’s happy face, and neither will you.
Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. This heritage gives them a wildflower-like appearance and disposition. Depending on variety, dahlias are hardy to US Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zone three though most varieties will feel most at home in warmer climates similar to their native climate. In many regions throughout the US, dahlias are grown as annuals.
Some dahlia plants can grow to a very large 10 feet tall while some smaller varieties fit comfortably in a pot on a patio. Underneath dahlias lovely limbs lies a well kept secret. Dahlias’ tubers are not only edible, but they are said to be enjoyably tasty. If you’re looking for an edible tuber, do your research. Make sure the dahlia is for food production and NOT an ornamental bulb. Ornamental bulbs are often treated with chemicals.
Dahlias were once such a valuable food source that an East Coast Native American tribe cultivated a red double-flowering dahlia plant for 400 years only for the tubers. Recently, this particular variety of dahlia has been preserved and protected as an heirloom root vegetable. The comeback of these edibles has made for a light-hearted tiff amongst some gardeners. A few dahlia flower gardeners have questioned the good sense of those gardeners who would dare harvest dahlias for the tubers at the loss of those irresistibly captivating blooms.
HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR DAHLIAS
Dahlias will grow from seed, but they are most often grown from division. Tubers can be purchased online and at local nurseries. Once you’ve selected your favorite dahlias to plant, thoughtfully consider where you’ll grow them. Dahlias are easy to cultivate – especially when you honor their simple needs.
Dahlias love the sun, so plan a spot where they’ll receive plenty. They’ll grow best in rich, well-draining soil. And they love water, so make sure your dahlias get enough of it.
Dahlias will enjoy an early summer boost of nitrogen rich fertilizer followed by weekly feedings of potassium rich plant food beginning in mid-summer. These treats are a sure fire way to keep those blossoms bursting.
And speaking of blooming, you can expect to enjoy dahlias happy blooms from mid- summer until the first frost. Besides fertilizer, dahlias will produce the most flowers if you dead head. To dead head dahlias properly, don’t just pop the spent flower heads off of the stem. Track the spent flower stem down to the point where it meets the main plant. You might notice a little nodule just waiting to spring forth. It will – as soon as you cut the spent stem back just above that nodule.
Enjoy the long lasting blooms either on the plant outdoors or in a vase indoors. Dahlias make excellent single cut flowers or cut flower arrangements.
DAHLIA PESTS, DISEASES, AND PROBLEMS
In spite of a spunky disposition, they do have a few weaknesses. Pests that dahlias find particularly troublesome include slugs, snails, caterpillars, and spider mites. Diseases include powdery mildew, fungal leaf spots, and soft rot.
Many of these pest and disease problems can be thwarted with careful watering methods and proper spacing for good air circulation. And, dahlias play well with several plants such as white geraniums and salvia. Not only will these companion plants complement your dahlias’ beauty, they will fight off some of the pests that tend to bother dahlias.
DAHLIA VARIETIES
With dahlias’ wide range of plant and flower shape and size, there’s undoubtedly at least one dahlia or another to appeal to every flower gardener’s fancy. Here are a few noteworthy varieties to pique your interest in dahlias.
‘Fire Pot’ dahlia is a hardy, easy to grow cultivar. With bright pink and yellow flowers that resemble a water lily, this alluring eye catcher will brighten up your garden and your day.
‘Honka’ is one of the simplest dahlia flower types. With single, flat, petals this dahlia resembles a yellow star against its dark green foliage. ‘Honka’ is a warm weather friend.
‘Kidd’s Climax’ sports an astounding pink blended with yellow bloom that’s the size of a dinner plate. Butterflies can’t resist this dahlia’s happy face, and neither will you.
