Lake Tahoe

Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous perennial plants native to Mexico and Central America. These popular garden flowers are prized for their spectacular blooms, which come in an extraordinary range of colors, sizes, and forms. Dahlia flowers can be as small as a coin or as large as dinner plates, with some varieties reaching over 12 inches across.

The blooms display remarkable diversity in shape, from simple single-petaled varieties to complex forms like pompons, cactus types with spiky petals, decorative doubles, and ball-shaped flowers. Colors span nearly the entire spectrum except true blue, including vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, whites, and striking bi-colors or variegated patterns.

Dahlias grow from underground tubers and typically reach heights of 1-6 feet, depending on the variety. They bloom from midsummer until the first frost, making them valuable for extended garden color. The plants prefer full sun and well-drained, fertile soil. In colder climates, the tubers must be lifted and stored indoors during winter. Dahlias are excellent for cut flowers and are popular in both cottage gardens and formal landscapes. There are over 40 species and thousands of cultivars, making them one of the most diverse flowering plants available to gardeners.