Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, dahlias are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing dahlias.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Dahlias Belong To?
Dahlias (Dahlia spp., most commonly Dahlia pinnata) belong to the Asteraceae family, also known as the daisy family.
Some of their relatives include lettuce, chamomile, and echinacea.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Dahlias?
The minimum container depth recommended for dahlias is 12 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Dahlias?
Some of dahlias' best companions are as follows:
- Cilantro
- Mints like spearmint and peppermint
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Bee balm
- Nasturtium
- Geranium
- Rose
- Lily
- Sunflower
- Goldenrod
- Marigold
- Cosmos
- Verbena
- Toothache plant
- Calendula
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Dahlias?
Dahlias are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with dahlias are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Do Dahlias Need?
Dahlias prefer fertile soil that is moist but well-draining.
How Long Do Dahlias Take to Germinate?
Dahlias take 7-10 days to germinate at a temperature of 65-75°F.
How Much Sun Do Dahlias Need?
Dahlias grow best in full sun. Specifically, they prefer 6-8 hours of sun per day.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and dahlias grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Dahlias Need?
Dahlias need 1 inch of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Dahlias?
Dahlias grow fastest in temperatures of 55-70°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some types of dahlias are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Dahlias Get?
The average height of dahlias is 1-6 feet.
Are Dahlias Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Dahlias are perennial herbs, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years, when grown in Hardiness Zones 8 and above.
In Hardiness Zones 7 and below, they are typically grown as annuals, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year.
How Do Dahlias Reproduce?
Dahlias reproduce by seed, tuber, or cutting.
How Many Dahlias Are Produced Per Plant?
For dahlias, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type and variety.
Most dahlias produce 1 large flower and 5 to 20 tubers per plant.
Can Dahlias Be Ingested?
Dahlia petals and tubers (roots) are edible.
Dahlia petals have antibiotic and emollient properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea (infusion) and lotion. The suggested herb:solvent ratio for a dahlia petal tincture is 1:5 in 40% alcohol.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting dahlia petals or tubers.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of dahlias rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for dahlias here!
Dahlias are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: