Description
- Flowers: Produces enormous, fully double blooms measuring 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The petals are a striking blend of golden yellow with bold tomato-red tips and midribs.
- Size: A sturdy, upright grower that typically reaches 36 to 48 inches (3 to 4 feet) in height and spreads about 18–24 inches.
- Bloom Period: Blooms continuously from midsummer until the first frost in the fall.
- Note on Tubers: This specific variety is known for producing smaller-than-average tubers, though this does not impact the plant's vigorous performance.
Care and Growing Instructions
- Light: Requires full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily) for optimal flowering and stem strength.
- Soil: Prefers rich, well-draining loamy soil. It does not tolerate waterlogged conditions, which can lead to tuber rot.
- Planting:
- Time: Plant in spring once the danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed.
- Depth & Spacing: Plant tubers 4 to 6 inches deep with the "eye" facing upward. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart.
- Watering: Maintain consistent moisture. Water deeply a few times a week rather than light daily sprinkling, and avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases.
- Fertilizing: Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer (such as 5-10-10) to encourage blooms rather than just excessive leafy growth.
- Maintenance:
- Staking: Because it is a tall variety with heavy dinnerplate blooms, it requires staking or cages for support.
- Pinching & Deadheading: Pinch back the main stem when the plant is 12 inches tall to encourage bushier growth. Regularly deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant producing new flowers.
- Winter Care: Hardy in USDA zones 8–11. In zones 3–7, tubers must be lifted after the first frost, dried, and stored in a cool, frost-free location like a basement in dry peat moss.
Dahlia Lady Darlene
$25.00Price
Excluding Sales Tax
Mid May- June timeframe
