When Do Dahlia Bulbs Bloom?

Dahlias are bright, colorful flowers that bloom late in the summer.

Dahlias vary in form from large, showy blooms the size of dinner plates to small, delicate flowers. Understanding when dahlias bloom and what it takes to get them there is invaluable to the gardener who wants dahlias in their garden.

Time Frame

Dahlia bulbs that are planted in April begin to bud in July. By August, you will have the full dahlia blooms. While some flowers open in July, the dahlias flower fully during August, producing the lushest flowers and the most vibrant color.

Preserving the Bloom

To make sure that the dahlia flowers stay full and beautiful as long as possible, deadhead the flowers by pinching off any old blooms as soon as they start to fade. Then the plant will put its resources into making more flowers rather than trying to keep old flowers alive.

Debudding

Debudding is the process of pinching off the first buds so that the later buds will have a better chance to bloom. The first buds on dahlias are often seated in the crotch of two leaf stems. Pinching off that bud allows other buds a chance to grow taller and to bloom in open circumstances, rather than between two hard stems.

References

• San Francisco Chapter of the American Dahlia Society: Dahlia Calendar
• Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Growing Dahlias