How to Grow
Dahlias are grown from tubers (similar to a bulb, but thin-skinned like a potato). Plant tubers in the springtime, about the same time as you would your vegetable gardens or when the ground is warm enough to work up and play in daily. Plant them in a full sun location (giving them 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) and enjoy blooms all summer long. They will bloom and provide you with color and abundant flowers for cutting and enjoying throughout the summer.
The more you cut a dahlia plant, the more it will bloom. Most cut dahlias will last up to 5 days once cut and treated.
Similar Color
My most prolific bloomer this year other than My Forever and one of the earliest to start blooming. Covered in flowers from mid-August till late October. Almost 5 feet tall and nicely bushy. Wasn’t sure I’d like the color but it’s a beautiful rich red, especially in the sun when the petals almost glitter. I’m in 6b and planted on Mother’s Day.
This is one tuber that didn't produce anything for me. The tubers from SID all looked really nice and healthy so I'm surprised nothing grew for me.
I love all of the dahlias I received from Swan Island. This is the only one of the 5 tubers I bought that did not come up. I've fallen in love with dahlias and just a bit disappointed to not enjoy this one. 1 or of five is not bad though. There's always some that don't make it.
The tiny tuber looked good upon arrival. I ordered Groovy for the strong reviews of "vigorous grower" as well as the reported beauty. First order with Swan Island and 3 out of 7 tubers ordered have not performed well (one died, Groovy is so stunted that the growth is only 4", one "wild cultivar" tuber is stunted with weak looking leaves). I also ordered dahlia tubers for the first time with a different company and all of them are currently flourishing with abundant flowers and strong plants. I mixed the plantings of all the tubers, so the Swan Island Dahlias are growing in the same plots as the flourishing other company dahlias. Swan Island is replacing one of the 3 tubers next season, so I shall see next year how Tapioca grows. As a note of FYI: the "warranty" is only up to a certain date to turn in photos of the tubers in question. I only turned in one by that date because I did see some growth on the other two that didn't perform well, but with more time, thinking they would catch up after sprouting, the date to turn in photos had passed. So if you have a colder zone or chilly season with slower growth, you may be out of luck with some of Swan Island's dahlia tubers' warranty. I spent over $80 on this order for the season. I spent a total of less than half that with the other company with 100% abundant success. I may be an anomaly in the statistics of buyers here, but wanted to at least post my experience as a first time buyer.
I thought Labrynth would have been my favorite last season, but I tried Groovy out so see what I would get since it was such a good price. This dahlia blew every other type I had (I had 20+ different varieties) out of the water, it would not stop blooming and I can’t even describe the color of it in person, just incredible! Not to mention the darker foliage. If I had to recommend one variety over all, this one absolutely takes the cake.
Just gorgeous. Did well in a plastic pot for me. The petals look like they've been hand painted.
The bloom colors are very pretty, however the flowers are small and the plant is large. It just blends in to my garden and doesn't really show. up.
This is my second year growing this dahlia. It is a favorite. Vigorous grower with lots of blooms. Flowers are gorgeous and long lasting. Not the longest stems for cutting, however. I'd attach a picture if I saw how to do that.
Love this flower! It is truly striking against the dark foliage. Mine is almost a deep raspberry red on the underside with lighter red & orange undertones on top. Planted it on 6/3 & it was blooming by the middle of August. Stems are a little shorter, but long enough for cut flower. One of my favorites this year. It truly is a groovy flower :)
This dahlia is such a stunning color. Dark red center with orangey outer petals makes it look like it fluoresces. Shorter stems but last forever as a cut flower. Love it.
Planted 5/19 and began blooming early August. The plant is short (3 ft) and small, but the dark foliage is striking and the small flowers (as promised), though not prolific are an unusual and wonderful rich red with a russet tone. The photo of 3 is most accurate.
WOW, this Dahlia started blooming first week of May and bloomed profusely non stop till November 12 when we had our first frost. Stems are short but if you are looking from an early bloomer this is it
Interesting colors but mine has shorter stems so I pick a cluster for the vase. Maybe next year it'll stretch out some.