Dahlias - From Unknown to Captivated

How dahlias stole my heart and quickly became a must-have in my garden every year. 

In February of 2023 I was preparing for the first Spring/Summer season in my new house. There were two small garden beds in the backyard and I decided I would grow vegetables in one and cut flowers in the other. I felt comfortable with the vegetables since I had lots of experience growing them with my Mom in her garden. However, I had never grown any cut flower varieties and didn’t have the first clue of where to start. Like any other mid-twenties female, I turned to Pinterest in search of inspiration. While scrolling through the search results, I was presented with endless posts that featured a flower I didn’t recognize, “Dahlias”. It is surprising to think about now, but at that point I had never heard the name dahlia, and if asked, I would not have been able to pick them out in a group of flowers. Though, once I clicked through the abundance of posts showcasing this flower's inspiring beauty, I knew I had to add them to my garden plans. Unknowingly triggering a soon-to-be obsession.

Throughout the beginning of that first growing season, I became quite frustrated with the dahlia plants and had several thoughts that I would not grow them again the following year. They were proving to be rather high maintenance, and with the first blooms predicted not to show up for 2-3 months after planting, I wasn’t sure they would be worth it. But then came the long awaited first bloom and all that changed. . . each bloom was captivating in a way that left me wanting more. I was hooked. Now I cannot imagine a gardening season without dahlias. 

There is a running joke in the dahlia community that these beautiful flowers have a cult-like following. This is not hard to understand once you’ve grown them for yourself. After experiencing the blooms in your own garden, you will begin to wonder how you ever lived without them.

Along with the joy that comes from walking through the dahlia flower beds, one of my favorite parts about this flower is the rich hues and color combinations that can be found on a single bloom. Crichton Honey is one of my favorite varieties for this reason. The blooms vary slightly in color and they have an ombre effect that makes them appealing in a bouquet all on their own.  

Another reason that I find dahlias exciting to grow is the rate in which they multiply in your own garden. In my first year with dahlias I started my collection with six plants and only five of them survived the growing season. That number has grown exponentially in the last three years, thanks to the plants producing more tubers each year that can be divided at the end of the season, creating more plants. With this, plus purchasing a few new tubers every year, my collection has grown to include 14 different varieties, totaling more than 40 plants. 

My passion for dahlias was definitely unexpected, I simply wanted a few flowering plants that I could make a bouquet with each week during the summer. Instead, they have provided me with a new favorite hobby, one I look forward to every year despite the labor they require.