Dahlia
Best varieties: Dinner Plate (huge blooms), Ball / Pompon, Cactus, Cafe au Lait (popular)
Moderate
Perennial
🐾 Pet Safe
🌲 PNW Growing Notes
Seattle’s unofficial flower! The American Dahlia Society was founded in WA. Plant tubers after last frost. Dig up tubers before hard frost for winter storage, or mulch heavily.
☀️ Light
Full sun (6+ hrs)
💧 Water
1–2 inches/week during growth
🪨 Soil
Rich, well-drained, pH 6.5–7.0
📏 Spacing
24" apart
📅 Planting Timeline (Seattle)
🪴
Transplant Outdoors
May (after last frost)
🌸
Bloom Season
Jul–Oct (until first frost)
💡 Pro Tip
Pinch the center growing tip when plants are 12″ tall to encourage branching and more blooms. Stake tall dinner plate varieties early.
🤝 Companion Planting
✅ Good Companions
Marigolds, Zinnias, Salvia