Dahlia and Georgina

Purple Dahlia

This sample of Dahlia has a huge head (20cm in diameter) and very deep colors.

Red Dahlia

A rich red color is outlined by slightly visible strips of white color.

Red Dahlia with white tips

This type of Dahlia is known not for big flowers (only 8cm) but for numerous flowers on one bush and special coloring.

Needle Dahlia

This kind of Dahlia received its unusual name for a specific shape of petals which remind "needles".

Yellow Dahlia

Pleasant color and crazy look!

White Dahlia

Tender white color will suit every flower.

Pink Dahlia

This young pink Dahlia is at the very beginnig of its blossom period.

Blooming after planting — 30-70 days
Blooming period — 70 days
Light — sunny places
Area — spacious
Watering — generous but not frequent

In both cases the plant received its name after a man: Dahlia is named after a Swedish botanist Anders Dahl and Gerogina is named after a German naturalist Johann Gottlieb Georgi who worked in Russia. Since that time to the most of the world the plant is known as Dahlia while in Russia and nearby countries it’s known as Georgina.

Like no other plant Dahlia is famous for a wide variety of species with all its numerous colors and forms. Dahlia is a fine decoration of any garden: big flowers of bright deep colors always draw attention and deserve to be the centre of a garden bed. The flowers can be cut for a buquet and live in the vase for about 1-2 weeks.

Another advantage that makes Dahlia suitable even for a beginner is that the plant doesn’t require special care. Though there are some simple requirements that you need to meet. First of all ensure that Dahlia has enough of sun and water. The soil should be mellow enough or otherwise use fertilizers.

In April take the bulbs of Dahlia and check them for rotten parts which you need to remove. Put the bulbs into the soil so that the top of the bulb is 2-3 cm above the soil level. This will prevent the bulbs from rottening. Plant bulbs in such a way that there is a distance of 70 cm between them. This is a must-action because Dahlia needs a big area for nutrition and in case you don’t follow this recommendation there’s a big chance that flowers will be smaller than you expect.

When the first stems appear, choose only three most healthy and strong and cut the rest of stems with a sharp knife. If you do so the flowers will be bigger and more decorative. If you plan to cut Dahlia flowers for bouquets, you need to leave only one bud on the stem and remove the rest.

During its growth Dahlia does not require much attention. Watering is mainly important for the development of bulbs and it needs to be generous but not frequent. Sometimes rain will be enough for a normal growth. And of course, fertilizers will do only good to the plant. The choice of fertilzers is so big that you are free to choose. A natural fertilizer is ash which has necessary components for Dahlia bulbs.

In autumn when the temperature drops to 0 C the stems of Dahlia would fade and get dark. This is a right time to cut the stems leaving about 10-15 cm of each stem. A good temperature for storage is +5 C and this is why it is better to remove the bulbs from the soil for winter. For this purpose prepare a box with ventilation holes and wood chips (or other suitable material). Put the first layer of bulbs and cover with wood chips, then you can put another layer of bulbs which you also need to cover with wood chips. For storage choose a dark, dry and ventilated place.

Dahlia is known from ancient times and deserved its fame throghout the years. Thanks to a huge variety of colors and rich foliage it can find its place in any garden.