Why I Love Dahlias

When the warmth of summer lingers and everything is lush and full, dahlias take center stage. Their dramatic colors, layered petals, and long bloom season make them one of my favorite flowers for designing both gardens and vases.

Yes — they need a little extra care with staking and tying. But to me, that small effort is part of the pleasure. Every stem you nurture rewards you with an explosion of beauty that lasts all season long.

All of these dahlias come from K. Van Bourgondien, my trusted source for quality bulbs. Their selection is outstanding, and their tubers are always healthy and reliable.

Unlike many nurseries , you will receive full clumps of bulbs, it helps insure a better result. I don't receive anything for recommending them, but I am happy to share this wonderful resource that I've enjoyed for at least 20 years. You can explore their full dahlia collection at DutchBulbs.com.

Dinner-Plate Dahlias: The Grand Beauties

These are the stars of the late summer garden — huge, dramatic flowers that stop you right in your tracks.

I will share some of the ones I have raised and enjoyed. There are so many, its nice to narrow them down a bit into true performers:

🌺 ‘Lady Darlene’ — The Sunset Bloom

Showy yellow petals brushed with red midribs and tips give Lady Darlene her flame-like glow. Her 9-inch blooms are spectacular in borders or bouquets, and she blooms generously from summer through October.

Easy to grow, deer-resistant, and absolutely radiant in late light — she’s a favorite for good reason.

🌸 ‘Café au Lait Royal’ — Elegance in Blush

This is the dahlia every florist adores.

The 10-inch fully double blooms of Café au Lait Royal unfold in soft pinks and dusky rose hues, making her an elegant accent against bolder perennials.

Perfect for cutting gardens or borders where you want a bit of romance.

🌷 ‘Belle of Barmera’ — The Showstopper

If there’s a bloom that says “luxury,” it’s Belle of Barmera.

Her 10-inch coral-raspberry petals with peach centers are a summer spectacle. Each flower looks hand-painted, and even a single stem brings drama to a vase.

🌼 ‘Golden Emblem’ — The Sunshine Maker

Soft-quilled yellow petals radiate warmth and cheer.

Growing 44–48 inches tall, Golden Emblem fills a garden with light, and her blooms (up to 4½ inches wide) are perfect for cheerful indoor arrangements.

🍁 ‘Vassio Meggos’ — The Artist’s Dahlia

A swirl of texture and tone — Vassio Meggos , this is part of a group of three that are my absolute favorites, They have the most amazing blooms, with the petals almost in a ball shape even though the blooms are 7 or 8 inches across. It also comes in rusty orange " Hercules" and deep burgundy red " Bohemian Spartacus" , with full, elaborate petals that feel sculptural in person.

These make wonderful focal points in mixed plantings or artistic flower groupings.

🧡 ‘Great Hercules’ — The Golden Giant

Glowing golden-orange to bronze blooms, 8 inches across, make Great Hercules a fiery showpiece. At about 44 inches tall, she fills the garden with warmth and keeps blooming until the first frost.

❤️ ‘Bohemian Spartacus’ — The Drama Queen

This rich, painterly dahlia unfurls 8-inch burgundy blooms streaked with yellow, creating a moody, romantic effect.

She’s the perfect contrast to lighter varieties and a real conversation piece in arrangements. She's also my absolute favorite of all dinner plate style dahlias.

Ball Dahlias: Beauty with Balance

For every grand, fluttery dinner-plate bloom, I like to add the balance of a perfectly rounded ball dahlia. These hold their shape, stand tall without fuss, and last forever in a vase — the designer’s secret weapon for structure and texture.

These are a few of my tested ball dahlias:

🧡 ‘Jowey Linda’ — Pure Summer Sunshine

Large 5–6" ball-shaped blooms in deep orange bring brightness and warmth to the garden.

She’s perfect planted in groups along the back of a border — strong, upright, and eye-catching. No other ball dahlias quite have this exquisite persimmon orange, you have to buy this one.

A favorite for cutting gardens and summer bouquets alike.

🌸 ‘Jowey Winnie’ — Elegance in Pink

Perfectly rounded pink blooms that seem to float above lush green foliage.

Jowey Winnie adds grace and color to any planting — stunning on her own or paired with creamy whites and soft yellows for that designer touch.

🧡 ‘Copperboy’ — The Modern Classic

This variety brings warmth and sophistication with its burnished copper-orange blooms.

A newer variety that’s quickly becoming a favorite — it’s hardy, low-maintenance, and endlessly photogenic.

A long bloomer that keeps the color show going until frost.

Tips for Growing Dahlias Beautifully

(Photo: Hands tying dahlia stems to bamboo stakes in a sunny garden.)

• Full Sun – Dahlias love at least six hours of sunlight a day.
• Support Early – Stake or cage at planting time to avoid breakage later. I add a tall strong stake when I plant so I know where the bulbs are, and also it gives me a good start on staking later. I start to put twist ties around the stem when its maybe 18 to 20 inches tall, and continue to tie them as they grow. Its good to add additional stakes to the plant as it gets larger, this way you can support it without everything being tied to the single stake!
• Deadhead Often – Keep removing faded blooms to encourage new ones.
• Lift in Cold Zones – In zones 3–7, dig and store tubers after frost. You can find more information on storing your tubers, honestly sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, I tend to buy new tubers each year to supplement what I loose.

My Living Beautifully Tip

There’s a rhythm to gardening that mirrors how we live in our homes.

Dahlias remind me that care and attention bring the biggest rewards — just like creating a space that feels intentional and loved.

Each bloom, whether the size of a dinner plate or a perfect glowing sphere, adds a note of beauty that lasts well beyond the season.

And that’s what Living Beautifully is all about — making every day a little brighter, a little more thoughtful, and always filled with color. 🌸