Pollinator-friendly Dahlias

As many of you know - my Confetti Gardens project and blog is all about growing pollinator-friendly flowers, veg and herbs, as well as creating havens for wildlife to thrive, even in the smallest of spaces such as on balconies or growing in window boxes. I often get asked about whether dahlias are pollinator-friendly flowers or not… so here it is - the 'Confetti Gardens and Friends' dahlia issue.

Happy reading and bee-friendly dahlia growing everyone!

Love and sunny greetings from,

Franzi

Dahlias.

If you have seen these show-stopping beauties on inspiring Instagram feeds and now, naturally, you just can’t wait to grow them yourselves, we here at Confetti Gardens are with you all the way!

But with so many different types of dahlia on the market, where do you start? Which varieties do you pick? Are they pollinator friendly or easy to grow? So many questions!

But don’t worry; here’s our guide to dahlias:

First of all, let’s get the debate on pollinator friendliness out of the way. Dahlias aren't commonly listed as especially pollinator-friendly flowers and the reason for this is the many different shapes and bloom types that dahlias offer. The issue for pollinators is the differences in the dahlias’ central disks. The central disk is where the pollen is produced and where the bees can access the nectar. Some dahlias have a nice, open flower with an easily accessible disk, while others are bred to have gorgeous, but very intricate and complicated flower types on which the disk is almost impossible to access. Needless to say, the latter type doesn’t offer much to the pollinators in your garden.

So, if you want to grow dahlias and attract some wildlife as well, your best choices are those cultivars that offer single flowers with a nice, open bloom. Have a look at the vibrant red ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ or the deep crimson of ‘Verrone’s Obsidian’. Not a fan of red? Why not go for soft pink with ‘Bishop of Leicester’ or bright yellow and orange cultivars like ‘Moonfire’ or ‘Figaro’? Another dazzling, pollinator-friendly dahlia bloom, that might even catch the attention of sci-fi nerds, ,is called ‘Star-Wars‘. This low-growing variety is also perfect for growing in pots on balconies, as well as in gardens. It loves growing in the sandy soil on the Confetti Gardens project site. There are many different colours to choose from that will suit any garden.

Pollinator-friendly dahlia variety ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ by

@talesfromourcountrygarden

However, it doesn’t start with flowers, it all starts with a tuber. If you’re picking up tubers from a garden centre or grower, give them a thorough inspection before you buy.Avoid tubers that look rotten or overly wrinkled. Pink ‘eyes’ (like you’d see on potatoes) are a good sign.

While dahlia fanatics (guilty!) are already starting them off in pots from around March-April, the good news is you’re not too late to start growing them just yet (late May). Dahlias love sun and heat and you should avoid planting them out too soon. Make sure you’re way past the last frost dates for your climate zone.

Dig a planting hole (in a border or a container) that is slightly larger than the tuber itself and place the tuber down with the ‘eyes’ facing upwards, covering them up again with 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of soil. Dahlias love a well-draining soil, so if you’re working with heavy clay or compacted soil, add some organic matter to avoid waterlogged, rotting tubers.

Unless the soil is bone dry, I’d even hold off on watering them until the first shoots appear.

@talesfromourcountrygarden

As far as spacing is concerned, it depends on the cultivar you’ve chosen. Some smaller cultivars can easily be spaced only one foot apart (30 cm) if space is tight, while other, larger varieties will need more space. Read the planting instructions for your specific type of dahlia.

If all goes well, your dahlias will start flowering around 8 weeks after planting, somewhere around mid-July. The larger cultivars will require support, so get this in before they start flopping over. Don’t bother mulching them: dahlias like a bit of sun on their roots and since they are a particular favourite of slugs and snails, you don’t want to give those slimy gourmands a good hiding place . You could go for some low-nitrogen fertilizer but since there’s always a risk of ‘burning’ them, I wouldn’t bother. A nutrient-rich soil will give your dahlias everything they need!

Dahlias in a stunning wildflower bouquet by

@ultramarineflowers

Once they start flowering, most of the work is done. Keep deadheading spent flowers and your dahlias will keep producing gorgeous blooms all through summer and even into autumn, sometimes right up until the first frosts.

As the first frost comes, the plants will quickly die back. In colder zones (such as the UK or mainland Europe), you will need to dig up the tubers and store them over winter to keep them safe from frost damage. Dahlias can’t cope with frosty, wet soils and will start to rot if left outside. Make sure to do this before all signs of above-ground growth have disappeared or you might have a difficult time finding those tubers again.

Carefully lift your tubers to avoid damaging them and cut away the now rotting foliage. Shake off any excess soil and bring them inside. You’ll find many ways to store dahlia tubers on the internet and everyone does it differently; simply on a rack, in dry sand or in vermiculite ... No matter which method you choose, make sure you store them in a dry, frost-free place with good ventilation. Make sure the tubers are not touching each other and inspect them for any signs of trouble now and then.

Come next spring, you’ll see those first ‘eyes’ reappear and you can start all over again.

Wonderful words of dahlia wisdom by Bart @agentlemangardener