Important Information
Tubers are sold as single tubers. We will only ship viable, intact, tubers with a body, neck and crown. Eyes will not be visible on all of the tubers yet.
For shipping we only use Courier Guy Door to Door, so if you are not comfortable with this method, please do not order.
Please open and properly inspect your tubers immediately upon receipt. We require notification within 5 days if there are any problems with your order. After that, the plants success is up to your green thumb and Mother Nature. We can not control your growing conditions, the weather, your treatment of the tuber or Mother Nature.
All our dahlia tubers are carefully inspected for any health issues by myself when I divide them. The variety name is strictly controlled to prevent any potential mix-ups.
Dahlia tuber orders will be shipped from the 1 October 2026 in the order in which they were received.
Tuber Count: 1
Plant Type: Tender perennial
Light Requirement: Full Sun
Blooms: Summer to First Frost
Plant Spacing: 45cm
Plant Staking: Yes, due to plant height
Dahlias are shipped as single tubers with minimum one eye guaranteed per tuber. If you are not able to plant the tubers upon arrival, store in a cool, dry, dark location.
How to grow dahlias
Planting Information:
- Plant Dahlia's after the last Spring frost and soil has warmed to 15°C.
- Pick a well drained, rich, organic flower bed or planter to plant into.
- Loosen the damp soil to a depth of 30cm before planting.
- Add compost and all-purpose granular fertilizer to the planting area and mix well.
- Dig a hole and plant the tubers, keeping the eye or sprouts upright. The top of the tubers, where the sprout emerge, should be positioned 5-7cm below the soil surface when the hole is filled in.
- Fill in around the tuber, firmly pressing down the soil so it is even with the surrounding ground, and water well. Make sure there are no air pockets in the soil.
- If planting in a container, ensure there are adequate drainage holes.
Tips For Growing Dahlias
- A common mistake when growing dahlias is to overwater tubers you have just planted. Too much water at this early stage can lead to rot. Water well when you first plant the tuber and then wait until you spot the first sprouts before watering again.
- To prevent disease, keep the foliage of dahlias as dry as possible. Water deeply once or twice a week, allowing the top 2.5 cm of soil to dry out in between watering's.
- Dahlia plants will benefit from supplemental organic water-soluble fertilizer every 3-4 weeks until March, then stop fertilizing to promote better overwintering of tubers.
- It is important to deadhead (remove wilted blooms) to encourage new buds, otherwise the plant will stop blooming and will focus its energy on seed production. Trim spent dahlia blooms with clean sharp garden scissors just above the point where the flower stem intersects with a leaf.
- Cut long flower stems for flower arrangements to encourage more branching and flower production. Despite a relatively short vase life, dahlias make gorgeous bouquets.
- Dahlias do not propagate reliably from seed, so if you'd like to keep and multiply your dahlia stock, make sure to look after your tubers in the winter.
- Dahlia tubers can be lifted for winter storage after the first frost. Luckily in most parts of South Africa we don't have to. We can just leave them in the ground to overwinter, and they will sprout the following spring.
Dahlias Q&A
When to plant dahlia tubers or bulbs in South Africa?
The best time to plant dahlia tubers or bulbs in South Africa is late Spring. October and November are the best times. Dahlias like warm soil to start sprouting and in South Africa the last frost date is end of September depending on the area you live. In Cape Town and other coastal areas it is safe to plant in September. But in the Eastern and Northern Cape it is safer to plant in October. Gauteng should also wait for October to start planting.
Where to buy dahlia tubers or bulbs online?
There are a few online options for buying dahlia tubers online in South Africa. Most of the online shops sell pot tubers imported from Europe, especially the Netherlands. These tubers are imported from the northern hemisphere and need to be planted as soon as possible for them to grow successfully. Love Dahlias has the largest selection of locally grown dahlia tubers in South Africa. All the tubers we grow have been growing in South African soil for at least one season. We supply large viable dahlia tubers to the public.
What is the difference between dahlia bulbs and tubers?
Dahlia tubers are sometimes called a bulb, but they are technically a tuber, similar to a potato. Just like potatoes, the tuber sends up a shoot that becomes the plant, which produces leaves and flowers. The original tuber will rot away and under the ground the new tubers multiply each year (again, like a potato).
When should I buy dahlia tubers?
The best time to buy dahlia tubers is in spring. Dahlia tubers in South Africa overwinter in the soil and get dug up late in winter. So the best time to get your hands on fresh dahlia tubers is in early September. We open our dahlia sales in Autumn, and our customers have the chance to pre-book tubers for the new season, but all tubers will be sent in mid September.
How many dahlia tubers can you get from one dahlia tuber?
A single dahlia will produce between 4 to 12 dahlia tubers in one growing season. This also depends on the tuber production of the variety. Some dahlia varieties are not very good tuber producers and will only yield a small amount of tubers every season. How long the growing season is can also attribute to the amount of tubers the dahlia plant produces. If fertilized correctly a dahlia that has been growing for a few months will produce more dahlia tubers than one that only grows for a short while.
Do dahlias come back year after year?
Dahlias start growing when the soil heats up and the days get longer. When winter comes your dahlias will die after the first hard frost. The tubers that grow beneath the ground are unharmed and can live to perform again year after year given a little care from you. Some lift dahlia tubers and store them over winter, then replant the following spring. Here in South Africa we can leave them in the ground.
Do dahlias like sun or shade?
Dahlias prefer full sun to partial sun. This means they need at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day in order to do well. But if the sun is too hot and temperatures routinely exceed 35 C the plants may stop flowering. If excess heat is a concern, choose a spot with morning sunlight, and some afternoon shade.
Are dahlia tubers expensive? Why do they cost so much?
Dahlias are labor intensive. Tubers must be dug up each year by hand. Dahlia tubers are quite fragile and break very easily. If they break, they are worthless therefore hand digging is the most gentle method. Once the tuber clumps have been dug up, they must be divided into individual tubers by hand. All these factors into the price of dahlias.
The consumer demand for dahlias is strong and there is only a limited amount of dahlias available. Certain varieties are better tuber producers than the others that also influence the price of dahlias. Boom Boom, Nepos, Otto’s Thrill, Lavender Perfection and the Cornel dahlias have been grown in South Africa for several years. There is a lot of their tubers available, hence the cheaper price, Newly imported varieties are not available in large quantities and are therefore more expensive.
Are bigger dahlia tubers better?
Size does not matter. The one common concern people have when they receive a dahlia tuber is that the tuber is too small and will this produce a quality dahlia plant? When it comes to tubers, size doesn't matter. You just need all three parts (body, neck and crown) of the tuber to be present and the tuber will send up a new shoot and start to produce a plant and then new tubers.
How long does it take dahlias to bloom?
Dahlias can take anywhere from 12 to 16 weeks to bloom after planting. Once they start blooming, they will continue to bloom until the first frost. Most dahlias take 100 days to fully bloom. This means that 3 months after the day you planted the tuber in the ground the plant will start to flower.
What is the rarest color of dahlias?
Black dahlias are extremely rare: less than 20 of 200 000 species of dahlias are black. But new research from scientists has revealed how these dark flowers get their color. Analyzing the pigment makeup of dahlias, scientists in Austria found that black dahlias contain far more anthocyanins, and far fewer flavones, than other colors of dahlias. As technical as this all sounds, it could have exciting implications for the future. This knowledge could be used to improve techniques for flower breeding, helping dahlia lovers to grow the perfect black dahlia.
Planting Dahlias in South Africa
How to plant dahlias in South Africa. Here is everything you need to know about planting dahlias in South Africa. To grow dahlias you need lots of sunshine and water. Luckily we have both these available in South Africa. That is why dahlia growing has taken off and more South Africans are growing dahlias than ever before.
Planting Time
For optimal growth, dahlias should be planted in mid spring, after the threat of frost has subsided. In Cape Town and most parts of South Africa this typically occurs around October. It is important that dahlias receive a minimum of 7 hours of sunlight a day.
Good Soil
To keep your dahlias healthy and thriving, make sure to plant them in well-draining soil to prevent water logging.
Loamy or sandy soil is ideal: These types of soil allow for good drainage and aeration
Avoid clay soil: If you have clay soil, amend it with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and aeration.
Loosen the soil: Dig deeply to loosen the soil and improve drainage, allowing tubers enough space to grow
Planting Procedure
Digging: Dig holes 10-15 cm deep and wide enough to accommodate the tuber
Placement: Place the tuber horizontally with the "eyes" (small buds) facing upwards.
Spacing Space tubers 30-40 cm apart, depending on the variety
Watering: Water thoroughly after planting, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged until the plants sprout
Staking: For taller varieties, insert stakes at the time of planting to support the heavy blooms
Post-Planting Care
Watering: Water regularly, especially during dry spells, but avoid over watering.
Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Fertilizing: Feed dahlias regularly with a balanced fertilizer.
Deadheading: Remove spent blooms to encourage more flower
Tips for Success
Soil Drainage :Ensure good drainage to prevent tuber rot.
Pest and Disease Control: Monitor for pests and diseases and take appropriate action if needed
Container Growing: Dahlias can also be grown in containers, but ensure they have adequate drainage and sunlight.