Mexico’s national flower, the dahlia comes in varieties to suit everyone’s taste, from spiky cactus to drop-dead-gorgeous dinner-plate, from flirty and demure to full-tilt bold and brassy.
BISHOP OF LLANDAFF
(Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’)
Bloom size: 4 inches; height: 3 feet
Brilliant semi-double scarlet flowers and dark foliage similar to a bishop’s frock give this stunner its name. A medium-height plant, it’s great for perennial borders. Newer varieties in other colors are commonly known as the Bishop’s children.
THOMAS EDISON
(Dahlia ‘Thomas Edison’)
Bloom size: 6 to 8 inches; height: 3 to 4 feet
First introduced in 1929 and named after the Wizard of Menlo Park, this striking purple dinner-plate dahlia has long stems, making it an ideal addition to your cutting garden.
NEW BABY
(Dahlia ‘New Baby’)
Bloom size: 4 inches; height: 3 to 4 feet
‘New Baby’ changes color with time, from bright orange to vermilion. Grow this ball-type dahlia alongside blue asters for a punchy combo.
MY LOVE
(Dahlia ‘My Love’)
Bloom size: 5 inches; height: 3 to 4 feet
The semi-cactus ‘My Love’ has a mid-20th-century, Jetsons-like appeal. It provides a soft, romantic edge, especially in a white garden.
WINSOME
(Dahlia ‘Winsome’)
Bloom size: 4 to 5 inches; height: 4 to 5 feet
Introduced in 1940, this antique variety has an elegant waterlily-like appearance, with an eye-catching coloration that blends from hot pink to warm yellow.
TOTALLY TANGERINE
(Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’)
Bloom size: 3 inches; height: 3 feet
The wild child of the dahlia world, ‘Totally Tangerine’ resembles an anemone in shape and features sumptuous orange petals and a shimmery pink backside.
Tips
• The more flowers you cut, the more flowers you get. For longer vase life, pick dahlias before they are fully open.
• When deadheading dahlias, the pointy remains get cut off and the round buds stay.
• Dahlia tubers should be planted outside once the danger of frost has passed and soil temperature has reached approximately 60°F.
• Get a jump on the season by planting the tubers inside, but wait to water them until you see growth above the soil line (they can rot easily).
• Dahlias can get top-heavy, so be sure to stake them. As they grow, tie them to the stake with garden twine.
