Dahlias

A must-have for late summer and fall bouquets. So easy to grow that you cannot fail at them. Dinnerplate types have enormous blooms as big as your face. Cactus types have pointy petals that are rolled or “quilled.” Decorative types will have you contemplating sacred geometry with their even spaced, perfectly curled petals.

Native to hot parts of the Americas and first developed as a food crop, ornamental dahlias are descended from years of breeding and crossing D. pinnata and D. juarezi.

Growing Dahlias

Soil: Prefers moist well-drained soil.

Sun: Full to part sun.

Spacing: 3–4" deep, 12–24" apart, after danger of frost. Set tubers flat with eyes facing up.

Overwintering: Dig tubers after the first frost, dry them off and store them in a well- ventilated cool (35–45°) dark dry place until replanting the next spring.