Bee Friendly Dahlias – Your Ultimate Guide To Varieties That

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever planted a big, gorgeous, fluffy dahlia, admiring its thousand-petal perfection, only to notice the bees and butterflies completely ignore it? It’s a common moment for gardeners who want both stunning beauty and a lively, pollinator-filled yard.

If you’ve felt that slight disappointment, I’m here to promise you that you can have it all. You can absolutely grow breathtaking dahlias and create a buzzing, vibrant ecosystem. The secret isn’t complicated—it’s just about choosing the right kind.

Welcome to your complete guide! We’re going to dive into the wonderful world of bee friendly dahlias. You’ll learn exactly which types to look for, discover a list of my absolute favorite pollinator-magnet varieties, and get all the best practices for growing them successfully. Let’s get your garden buzzing!

Why Aren’t All Dahlias Bee-Friendly? The Open-Center Secret

It seems simple, right? A flower is a flower. But for a bee, the difference between dahlia varieties can be like the difference between an all-you-can-eat buffet and a restaurant with a locked door.

The issue comes down to flower structure. Over centuries, we’ve bred dahlias to produce incredible, complex blooms. Think of the giant “dinnerplate” types or the perfectly spherical “pompom” dahlias. They are stunning to us, but their tightly packed petals hide the very things bees are looking for: pollen and nectar.

Bees need easy access to the flower’s center, where the reproductive parts are. This is where they collect protein-rich pollen to feed their young and sip on sugary nectar for energy. When the petals are too dense, the bees simply can’t get in. They might fly by, but they can’t land and forage.

The key to how to bee friendly dahlias is to choose varieties with an “open center.” These flowers wear their hearts on their sleeves, proudly displaying a central disc of tiny florets packed with pollen. This disc is a clear landing pad and a welcome sign for every bee in the neighborhood.

So, when you’re shopping for tubers or plants, look for types like Single, Collarette, Anemone, Mignon, and Orchid dahlias. Their simple, open forms are exactly what pollinators have evolved to recognize and love.

Our Top 10 Bee Friendly Dahlias to Plant This Year

Ready to turn your garden into a pollinator paradise? Here are ten of my tried-and-true favorite bee friendly dahlias. Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners and pros alike!

  1. Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’
    A true classic! This peony-flowered dahlia features striking, scarlet-red petals against deep, bronze-black foliage. Its open center is a beacon for bees, and its dramatic colors make it a showstopper in any border.

  2. Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’
    This anemone-flowered beauty is always buzzing with activity in my garden. It has soft orange outer petals surrounding a pincushion-like center of smaller, darker orange-pink florets. It’s unique, beautiful, and a pollinator favorite.

  3. Dahlia ‘Happy Single Kiss’
    Part of the “Happy Single” series, this variety lives up to its name. It boasts cheerful peachy-pink petals with a yellow blush around a dark central disc. They are compact plants, making them perfect for containers or the front of a border.

  4. Dahlia ‘Waltzing Mathilda’
    Prepare to be mesmerized. This single-flowered dahlia has petals that shift from coral and peach to raspberry and yellow, all on the same plant. The dark foliage provides a stunning contrast, and bees go wild for its easy-access center.

  5. Dahlia ‘Pooh’
    A whimsical and wonderful collarette dahlia! ‘Pooh’ has bright red outer petals tipped in yellow, with a secondary ruff of smaller, creamy-yellow petals (the “collar”) around the center. It’s as fun as its name suggests.

  6. Dahlia ‘Honka’
    For something truly different, try this orchid-flowering (or star-flowering) dahlia. Its delicate, star-shaped yellow petals are rolled inwards, creating a unique look. The center is completely exposed, making it a fantastic and unconventional choice for pollinators.

  7. Dahlia ‘Twynings After Eight’
    Elegance in a flower. This dahlia features crisp white, single petals that stand out brilliantly against its deep, near-black foliage. The contrast is breathtaking, and its pollen-rich center is a major draw for bees.

  8. Dahlia ‘Mignon’ Series
    This isn’t a single variety but a type. Mignon dahlias are dwarf, single-flowered plants that are perfect for pots and small spaces. They come in a rainbow of colors and are incredibly reliable bloomers, offering a season-long feast for pollinators.

  9. Dahlia ‘Kelsey Annie Joy’
    This charming collarette dahlia features soft pink outer petals and a frilly inner collar of white and yellow. It has a sweet, delicate appearance and provides an excellent food source for a wide range of bees.

  10. Dahlia ‘Classic Rosamunde’
    A simply beautiful single dahlia with large, clear-pink petals and a sunny yellow center. It has a timeless, wildflower-like charm and produces armloads of flowers perfect for cutting—if you can get to them before the bees do!

READ MORE  Growing Dahlias In Hawaii - Your Year-Round Bloom Guide

The Complete Bee Friendly Dahlias Care Guide

Growing these beauties is incredibly rewarding. Follow this simple bee friendly dahlias care guide, and you’ll be rewarded with healthy plants and a garden full of happy pollinators. These are the best practices I’ve learned over years of growing.

Planting Your Tubers: Getting it Right from the Start

The journey begins with proper planting. Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to about 60°F (15°C). Choose a spot that gets at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Dahlias need well-draining soil. If you have heavy clay, amend it with compost to improve drainage and add nutrients. Dig a hole about 4-6 inches deep, lay the tuber horizontally with the “eye” (the little bud where the stalk will grow) pointing up, and cover it with soil. Don’t water it until you see the first green shoots emerge!

Watering Wisdom for Healthy Blooms

Once your dahlias start growing, they’ll need consistent moisture. They prefer a deep watering 2-3 times a week rather than a light daily sprinkle. This encourages deep, strong root growth.

Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, but also be careful not to create a swamp. Soggy soil is the number one cause of tuber rot. A layer of mulch can help retain soil moisture and keep weeds down.

Feeding Your Dahlias for a Season of Flowers

To keep the flowers coming, you’ll need to feed your plants. Use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in potassium and phosphorus. Too much nitrogen will give you lots of leafy green growth but very few flowers.

Look for a “bloom” or “tomato” fertilizer. Start feeding after the plants are about a foot tall and continue every 3-4 weeks through the growing season, stopping in early fall.

Staking and Support: A Must for Tall Varieties

Many dahlia varieties, even the single-flowered types, can grow quite tall and will need support to prevent their hollow stems from snapping in wind or rain. It’s best to place your stake in the ground at planting time to avoid damaging the tuber later.

As the plant grows, use soft garden twine to loosely tie the main stem to the stake every foot or so.

Pinching and Deadheading for More Blooms

This is a pro tip that makes a huge difference! When your plant is about 12-16 inches tall and has 3-4 sets of leaves, “pinch” out the central growing tip. It feels scary, but this encourages the plant to branch out from the base, resulting in a bushier plant with many more flowers.

Throughout the season, be sure to “deadhead,” which means cutting off spent flowers. This tells the plant to put its energy into making new blooms instead of seeds.

Creating a Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Dahlia Patch

Planting for bees is about more than just flower choice; it’s about creating a healthy environment. Adopting a few sustainable bee friendly dahlias practices will make your garden a true haven.

Go Organic: Avoiding Pesticides

This is the most important rule for an eco-friendly bee friendly dahlias garden. Pesticides, especially systemic ones, can be incredibly harmful to bees and other beneficial insects. Even organic sprays can be harmful if applied incorrectly.

Embrace a little imperfection! If you must treat a pest problem, do it in the evening when bees are not active and use targeted, bee-safe options like insecticidal soap or a strong spray of water to dislodge aphids.

Building Healthy Soil with Compost

Healthy plants are better at resisting pests and diseases. The foundation of a healthy plant is healthy soil. Regularly amending your soil with homemade or store-bought compost adds vital nutrients, improves soil structure, and feeds the beneficial microorganisms that support your plants.

Companion Planting for a Thriving Ecosystem

Don’t just plant dahlias! Weave in other pollinator-friendly plants to create a diverse buffet. Plants like borage, calendula, sweet alyssum, and cosmos not only attract more bees but also draw in beneficial predatory insects that will help control pests like aphids naturally.

Water Conservation Techniques

Being a green gardener means being water-wise. Applying a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (like shredded leaves or straw) around your dahlias will help the soil retain moisture, reducing your need to water. Using a soaker hose or drip irrigation delivers water directly to the roots, minimizing evaporation.

Common Problems with Bee Friendly Dahlias (And How to Solve Them!)

Even with the best care, you might run into a few issues. Don’t worry! Here are some solutions to the most common problems with bee friendly dahlias.

READ MORE  Growing Dahlias In Kansas - Your Step-By-Step Guide For Stunning

Pesky Pests: Slugs, Snails, and Aphids

Slugs and snails love tender new dahlia shoots. Go out at night with a flashlight to hand-pick them, or use pet-safe slug bait like Sluggo. For aphids, a strong blast of water from the hose can often knock them off. For persistent infestations, a spray of insecticidal soap will work—just be sure to apply it in the evening.

Dealing with Powdery Mildew

This common fungal disease looks like a white powder on the leaves, and it thrives in humid conditions with poor air circulation. To prevent it, give your plants plenty of space when you plant them. If you see it, remove the affected leaves immediately. An organic fungicide or even a spray made of one part milk to nine parts water can help control its spread.

Why Aren’t My Dahlias Blooming?

This is a frustrating one! The most common culprits are not enough sun (they need 6+ hours!), too much nitrogen fertilizer (all leaves, no flowers), or lack of water. Another possibility is that you didn’t pinch the plant early on, which can sometimes delay or reduce blooming.

The Year-Round Benefits of Bee Friendly Dahlias

When you choose to plant for pollinators, you’re doing more than just growing pretty flowers. The benefits of bee friendly dahlias ripple throughout your entire garden and local ecosystem.

You’re providing a critical late-season food source. Dahlias bloom from mid-summer until the first frost, offering nectar and pollen when many other flowers have faded. This is vital for bees preparing for winter and for migrating butterflies.

If you have a vegetable patch, the increased bee activity will lead to better pollination and bigger harvests of crops like squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. You are actively contributing to a healthier, more resilient environment, one beautiful flower at a time.

And let’s not forget the simple, profound joy of watching your garden come alive. There’s nothing quite like sipping your morning coffee while watching fuzzy bumblebees happily wiggle around in the center of a dahlia you grew yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bee Friendly Dahlias

Are pompom or dinnerplate dahlias ever good for bees?

Unfortunately, no. While they are spectacular, their dense, tightly packed petals make it nearly impossible for bees to access the pollen and nectar in the center. To help pollinators, you should always prioritize open-centered varieties.

Do I need to dig up my dahlia tubers every year?

This depends on your climate. If you live in USDA zone 8 or warmer, you can often leave your tubers in the ground with a thick layer of mulch for protection. In colder zones (zone 7 and below), you’ll need to carefully dig them up after the first frost, let them dry, and store them in a cool, dark place for the winter.

Can I grow bee friendly dahlias in pots?

Absolutely! Many single and mignon varieties are compact and do wonderfully in containers. Just make sure your pot is large enough (at least 5 gallons) and has excellent drainage. Potted dahlias will also need more frequent watering and feeding than those in the ground.

When is the best time to plant bee friendly dahlias?

The best time to plant dahlia tubers is in the spring, once all danger of frost has passed and your soil has warmed up. Planting too early in cold, wet soil is a common cause of tuber rot. Be patient and wait for the weather to settle!

Your Garden is Calling!

You now have everything you need to create a garden that is both a feast for your eyes and a feast for the bees. By simply choosing open-centered varieties, providing them with good care, and embracing sustainable practices, you can make a real difference.

This year, I encourage you to dedicate a sunny spot to these pollinator powerhouses. Plant a ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ for drama, a ‘Totally Tangerine’ for fun, or a ‘Waltzing Mathilda’ for pure magic.

Your garden—and your local bees—will thank you for it. Happy planting!

Rimon Chowdhury
Latest posts by Rimon Chowdhury (see all)

Similar Posts