How To Get Purple Dahlia In Grow A Garden – Your Complete Guide To

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever scrolled through pictures of stunning gardens and stopped dead in your tracks at the sight of a dahlia in a deep, velvety shade of purple? There’s something truly magical about that color—it adds a touch of royalty, drama, and breathtaking beauty to any space.

You might think that achieving such a specific and vibrant color is a secret reserved for expert gardeners. I promise you, it’s not! With the right knowledge and a little bit of care, you can absolutely fill your garden with these magnificent blooms.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know. We’ll cover choosing the perfect purple varieties, planting them for success, nurturing them throughout the season, and even troubleshooting common issues. Let’s get started on your journey of how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden and turn that vision into a reality.

Why Purple Dahlias? The Royal Touch Your Garden Deserves

Before we dig in, let’s talk about why purple dahlias are so special. Purple is a color often associated with creativity, luxury, and ambition. In a garden, it creates a sense of depth and contrast, making other colors like yellow, orange, and white pop even more.

One of the greatest benefits of how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden is the sheer variety available. You can find everything from soft, dreamy lavender to the deepest, most dramatic plum. These flowers aren’t just pretty faces, either; they are pollinator magnets, attracting bees and butterflies to your yard.

Plus, they make absolutely incredible cut flowers. A single, show-stopping purple dahlia in a vase can brighten an entire room. Growing your own means you have a season-long supply of fresh, stunning bouquets.

Choosing Your Perfect Purple Dahlia: Variety is Key

Here’s the most important secret to growing purple dahlias: you can’t force a yellow or red dahlia to turn purple. The color is locked into the plant’s genetics. So, the very first step is choosing a variety that is already purple.

Luckily, there are hundreds of breathtaking options to choose from! Don’t worry—these flowers are perfect for beginners! Selecting the right tuber is the foundation of your success.

Top Purple Dahlia Varieties for Beginners

To get you started, here are a few tried-and-true purple varieties that are known for being reliable growers and stunning performers:

  • ‘Thomas A. Edison’: This is a classic “dinnerplate” dahlia, meaning it produces enormous, lush flowers up to 8 inches across. Its color is a rich, royal purple that commands attention.
  • ‘Blue Bayou’: Don’t let the name fool you—this dahlia produces beautiful lavender-purple flowers with a darker center. It’s an anemone-flowered type, giving it a unique and charming look.
  • ‘Lilac Time’: A gorgeous ball dahlia, ‘Lilac Time’ creates perfect, globe-like blooms in a soft and elegant lilac-purple. They are fantastic for bouquets because of their strong, straight stems.
  • ‘Plum Tart’: Just like its name suggests, this variety boasts a deep, mouth-watering plum color. It’s a decorative dahlia that produces an abundance of 4-6 inch blooms.

Understanding Dahlia Forms

Dahlias come in an incredible array of shapes and sizes, known as “forms.” Knowing a few basic forms can help you choose the style you love most:

  • Decorative: Broad, flat petals in a classic, full flower shape.
  • Cactus: Petals are rolled, creating a spiky, starburst effect.
  • Ball & Pompon: Tightly rolled petals form a perfect sphere.
  • Dinnerplate: Not an official form, but a term for any dahlia with blooms over 8 inches wide!

Where to Buy Quality Dahlia Tubers

Look for tubers at your local garden center in the spring or from reputable online suppliers. A healthy dahlia tuber should feel firm to the touch, like a potato. Avoid any that are soft, mushy, or completely dried out. Most importantly, make sure you can see at least one “eye”—a small nub where the new stalk will grow.

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The Ultimate How to Get Purple Dahlia in Grow a Garden Planting Guide

Alright, you’ve chosen your perfect purple dahlias! Now for the fun part: planting. Following this how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden guide will set your plants up for a season of vigorous growth and stunning blooms. This is where we put the best practices into action.

When to Plant Your Tubers

Timing is everything. Dahlias are tender and cannot tolerate frost. The golden rule is to plant them in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to at least 60°F (15°C). For many gardeners, this is around the same time you’d plant your tomato seedlings.

Finding the Perfect Spot: Sun and Soil

Dahlias are sun worshippers. To get the best, most vibrant blooms, you need to give them a spot that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. The more sun, the more flowers you’ll get.

They also need well-draining soil. If your soil is heavy clay, amend it with compost or other organic matter to improve its texture and drainage. Dahlias hate “wet feet,” and tubers can rot in soggy ground. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.5-7.0) is ideal for nutrient uptake and can help enhance the richness of the flower color.

Step-by-Step Planting Instructions

Ready to get your hands dirty? Here’s how to plant your tubers for maximum success:

  1. Prepare the Soil: Loosen the soil in your planting area to a depth of about 12 inches. Mix in a few inches of compost to add valuable nutrients.
  2. Dig the Hole: Dig a hole that is about 4-6 inches deep and wide enough to comfortably fit the tuber.
  3. Place the Tuber: Lay the tuber horizontally in the hole with the “eye” or any visible sprout pointing upwards. If you can’t find an eye, don’t worry—it will find its way up!
  4. Add a Stake Now: If you’re planting a tall variety (over 3 feet), insert a sturdy stake into the ground a couple of inches away from the tuber now. Doing it later risks piercing and damaging your growing tuber clump.
  5. Backfill and Wait: Gently cover the tuber with soil. Do not water it yet! The tuber has enough moisture to get started, and watering now can cause it to rot before it sprouts. Wait until you see the first green shoots emerge from the soil.
  6. Mind Your Spacing: Space your dahlias about 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on their final size. Good air circulation is key to preventing disease.

Nurturing Your Purple Beauties: The Essential Care Guide

Once your dahlias have sprouted, your job is to keep them happy and healthy. This how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden care guide covers the simple, routine tasks that lead to a spectacular floral display.

Watering Wisely

Once you see green shoots, you can start watering. Dahlias are thirsty plants, especially during hot, dry weather. Provide a deep, thorough watering 1-2 times a week rather than frequent light sprinklings. This encourages deep root growth. Always aim to water the base of the plant and avoid getting the foliage wet to help prevent mildew.

Feeding for Fabulous Flowers

To produce all those giant, colorful blooms, dahlias need food. Start feeding them with a liquid fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium (like a 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 formula) about 30 days after planting. Continue feeding them every 3-4 weeks until early fall. Too much nitrogen will give you a big, green, leafy plant with very few flowers.

To Pinch or Not to Pinch?

For a bushier plant with more blooms, we recommend “pinching.” When the plant is about 12-16 inches tall and has 3-4 sets of leaves, simply snip off the top central shoot, right above a set of leaves. It feels scary, but this encourages the plant to send out multiple side branches, which will each produce a flower!

Common Problems with How to Get Purple Dahlia in Grow a Garden (And How to Solve Them)

Even the most experienced gardeners face challenges. Here are some common problems with how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden and simple, eco-friendly solutions.

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Pests to Watch For

Slugs and snails love tender dahlia shoots. Use pet-safe slug bait or set out shallow traps of beer to control them. Earwigs can sometimes nibble on petals; you can trap them in loosely rolled-up newspaper placed near the plants overnight. For aphids or spider mites, a strong spray of water or a treatment with insecticidal soap is usually effective.

Disease Prevention

The most common disease is powdery mildew, a white, dusty coating on the leaves. The best defense is prevention. Ensure good air circulation by spacing plants properly and watering at the soil level. If it appears, you can treat it with a neem oil spray.

Sustainable Practices for Your Dahlia Patch

Growing a beautiful garden can and should be kind to the planet. Adopting a few sustainable how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden practices will benefit your plants and your local ecosystem.

Eco-Friendly Pest Control

Instead of reaching for harsh chemicals, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on aphids. You can do this by planting companion flowers like alyssum or dill nearby. This is a key part of any eco-friendly how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden approach.

Storing Tubers for Next Year

In colder climates (Zone 7 and below), dahlia tubers won’t survive the winter in the ground. One of the most sustainable things you can do is dig them up and store them for the next season. After the first light frost has blackened the foliage, carefully dig up the tuber clumps, let them dry for a few days, and store them in a box with peat moss or wood shavings in a cool, dark place like a basement or garage.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Get Purple Dahlia in Grow a Garden

Can I make my pink dahlia turn purple?

Unfortunately, no. A dahlia’s color is determined by its genetics. While providing optimal growing conditions (healthy soil, proper nutrients) can help a purple dahlia achieve its richest, most vibrant hue, you cannot fundamentally change a plant’s color.

How long does it take for dahlias to bloom after planting?

You can typically expect to see the first blooms about 8 weeks after planting, or around mid-summer. They will then continue to bloom prolifically until the first frost in the fall.

Are purple dahlias safe for pets?

Dahlias are considered mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Ingesting the tubers, leaves, or flowers can cause mild gastrointestinal upset. It’s best to plant them in an area your furry friends can’t easily access.

Do I need to deadhead my purple dahlias?

Yes, absolutely! “Deadheading,” or removing spent flowers, is one of the most important how to get purple dahlia in grow a garden tips. Snip off the old blooms just above a set of leaves. This tells the plant to put its energy into producing new flowers instead of making seeds.

Your Garden Awaits Its Royal Blooms

There you have it—everything you need to know to bring the majestic beauty of purple dahlias into your own backyard. From choosing the perfect variety to giving it the right care, you are now fully equipped for success.

Remember that gardening is a journey of learning and joy. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best in your unique space. Follow these steps, and you’ll soon be rewarded with a stunning display of rich, royal purple that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

Go forth and grow!

Rimon Chowdhury
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