Dahlias

Growing flowers by themselves or alongside a vegetable garden can bring a splash a color into your landscape, and what brings more color than dahlias? These easy to grow flowers can be enjoyed for years, all with a little knowledge and proper storage. 

Dahlias are native to the mountains of Mexico, where they were discovered by Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, hence the name “dahlia.” The original flowers most likely consisted of a single row of ray florets surrounding a yellow center disc florets. While this variety is still grown, many newer varieties come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. 

There are 15 colors that are recognized by the American Dahlia Society: white, yellow, orange, pink, dark pink, red, dark red, lavender, purple, light blend, bronze, flame, dark blend, variegated, and bicolor. 

Dahlias are purchased as dry crowns, with radiating tubers. Dahlias perform best in full sun and well-drained soil, as tubers will rot if exposed to too much moisture. A viable tuber will have an “eye” from the original crown, a connecting “neck,” and associated roots. Tubers should be planted horizontally, covered with 1 to 2 inches of soil, and watered thoroughly.  

A support or trellis should be provided if dahlias are grown for their blooms to ensure plants won’t lodge. To aid in bigger blooms, side shoots can be removed, although this isn’t necessary. Deadheading, the removal of spent blooms, will encourage additional blooming.  

In the fall after the killing frost, plant debris should be removed, and tubers should remain in the soil for 1 to 2 weeks to “cure.” After this curing period, tubers can be lifted, shaken off, washed, dried, placed in a non-organic material, and stored in a colder environment, such as a basement or root cellar.