I Grew These Dahlias!
A huge Cafe au lait dahlia, an orange Delbard Gange dahlia and pretty zinnias
Cafe Au Lait dahlias, Delbard Gange and more, more, more
Every summer I plant dahlias and every summer I vow to plant way more than before, and no matter how many I order, I always seem to plant the same amount in my backyard: about 10 dahlias.
And the exact same thing happened this year in 2021. I had about 30 tubers and over 10 went missing inside my plot at Northey Street City Farm, don’t ask me how, and a couple didn’t grow, so I ended up with 10, which is really more than enough anyway!
I thought I would share a few photos of the end result and some answers about growing dahlias in Australia below. All the flowers were grown in my backyard in Brisbane.
I saved many dahlia tubers of my own (although quite a lot turned to mush over winter #disappointing). I also bought a few more, from Serenade Farm in Mt Tambourine and from Mount Joy Cottage in Melbourne.
Cafe Au Lait Dahlias were in very short supply in Australia this year following the pandemic (see my Cafe Au Lait Dahlia list here if you are searching for tubers within Australia) so I made sure I saved this variety very carefully, then bought a few more varieties.
Because I only ended up growing about 10 dahlia bushes, the flowers took up only about 5 metres of my garden space, meaning most people with a little garden could do the same. Check out the photos below for the results and a few handy questions and answers about growing dahlias.
The first dahlias to bloom in my backyard in 2021
pink Clara Thora dahlias
The end result of dahlia season
A Few Questions About Dahlias, Answered
Can you grow dahlias in Australia? Yes. Absolutely, growing dahlias is well suited to an Australian climate because dahlias love heat.
When is the best time to plant dahlias in Australia? Dahlias are traditionally planted at the start of summer, December 1. For the parts of Australia that are hot well before summer starts, plant anytime from September.
When can you buy dahlia tubers in Australia? Most dahlia tuber sellers start selling in early September, or late August in Australia.
How much do dahlia tubers cost? Dahlia tubers generally cost between $10-$15. For very rare and in-demand varieties, I have seen them as much as $25.
Can you grow Cafe Au Lait dahlias in pots? Yes. You can definitely grow Cafe Au Lait dahlias in pots. I recommend 1 dahlia tuber only per 20-30cm pot.
What are some of the best dahlia varieties to grow in Australia? Cafe Au Lait dahlias are a highly popular dahlia variety in Australia. I also love the orange Delbard Gange variety, the beautiful magenta Tom’s Dahlia variety I sell and the pretty pink Sugartown Sunrise variety.
How many flowers do you get from one dahlia tuber? Usually 5 or more. Dahlias blooms for a number of weeks and keep producing flowers throughout that time. I’ve had 5 dahlias and as many as 15 from 1 tuber/plant.
Where to buy dahlia tubers within Australia? Check out my 2021 Cafe Au Lait Dahlia List for good suppliers.