Introduction
Walking through a garden filled with blooming dahlias is a magical experience. From the massive, plate-sized blossoms of dinnerplate varieties to the perfectly symmetrical spheres of ball dahlias, these flowers offer a level of variety and color that is hard to find elsewhere. If you have ever seen these stunning blooms in a neighbor's yard or at a flower market, your first thought was likely wondering how to get that same beauty into your own garden.
When you start looking for ways to add these flowers to your landscape, you might find yourself asking: can you buy dahlia plants? While you may occasionally see green, leafy dahlias in pots at a local nursery in the late spring, most gardeners find that the best way to grow them is by starting with dormant tubers. At Longfield Gardens, we specialize in providing these high-quality tubers because they are the most reliable and cost-effective way to fill a garden with spectacular summer color.
In this guide, we will explore the different ways you can purchase dahlias and why starting with tubers is often the preferred choice for both beginners and experts. We will also look at how to choose the right varieties for your space and what to expect when your order arrives. Understanding the buying process is the first step toward a successful season of beautiful, homegrown bouquets.
Buying Dahlias: Plants vs. Tubers
The question of whether you can buy dahlia plants has a two-part answer. Yes, you can buy dahlia "plants" in the sense that you can purchase the living organism that will produce flowers. However, the form that plant takes when you buy it depends on the time of year and where you are shopping.
What is a Dahlia Tuber?
For the vast majority of gardeners, buying a dahlia means buying a tuber. A tuber is a thickened, underground part of the plant’s root system that stores energy and nutrients. It looks a bit like a small potato or a bunch of carrots. Inside that humble-looking tuber is everything the plant needs to sprout, grow tall, and produce dozens of flowers throughout the summer and fall.
When you buy tubers online during the winter or early spring, they arrive in a dormant state. They aren't green or growing yet, which makes them very easy and safe to ship through the mail. Once you plant them in warm soil, they "wake up" and begin their rapid growth cycle.
Finding Potted Plants
In late May or June, you might see dahlia plants at local garden centers that are already a foot tall and growing in plastic pots. While these provide instant gratification, they are usually much more expensive than tubers. Because dahlias grow so quickly once the weather warms up, a tuber planted in May will often catch up to a potted plant within just a few weeks.
Additionally, local stores usually only carry a handful of generic varieties. If you are looking for specific colors, heights, or flower shapes—like the famous Cafe au Lait or Arabian Night—you will almost always need to buy them as tubers from a specialist supplier.
Why Tubers Are the Preferred Choice
Most enthusiasts prefer buying tubers because they offer the widest selection of varieties. Tubers are also easier to handle and store if you aren't quite ready to plant the moment they arrive. Because they are dormant, they don't require the immediate watering and sunlight that a leafy potted plant needs to stay alive.
Key Takeaway: While potted dahlia plants exist, buying dormant tubers is the most common, affordable, and varied way to bring these flowers into your garden.
Why Buying Online Offers the Best Experience
When you decide to add dahlias to your garden, the selection at a local big-box store can feel a bit limited. Buying your dahlias online from a trusted source like us allows you to tap into a much larger world of floral possibilities.
Access to Specialized Varieties
Online retailers work directly with professional growers to bring you hundreds of different dahlia types. Whether you want the soft, peachy tones of a Cafe au Lait for a wedding-style garden or the deep, moody reds of Arabian Night for a dramatic border, online shopping makes these specific choices possible. You can filter by height, bloom size, and color to ensure the plants you buy fit perfectly into your existing landscape.
Quality and Health
When you buy dahlias from a reputable online source, the tubers are typically kept in climate-controlled environments until they are ready to be shipped. This ensures they remain dormant and healthy. In contrast, tubers sitting in bags on a shelf in a warm retail store may start to sprout prematurely or dry out.
We take great care to ensure that the tubers we ship are firm, healthy, and ready to grow. Each variety is carefully labeled so there is no guesswork when it comes to what will emerge from the ground.
Expert Support and Guidance
Buying online often comes with the added benefit of educational resources. We provide detailed planting instructions and care guides to help you every step of the way. If you have a question about when to plant or how to support your tall varieties, the answers are usually just a click away on our Garden Basics page.
What to Do Next:
- Identify the areas in your garden that receive at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun.
- Decide if you want tall varieties for the back of a border or shorter ones for containers.
- Browse online collections in late winter to ensure you get your favorite varieties before they sell out.
- Check your USDA hardiness zone to understand when your local "last frost" usually occurs.
Choosing the Right Dahlia Varieties for Your Garden
One of the most exciting parts of buying dahlia tubers is exploring the different flower forms. Dahlias are classified by the shape and size of their blooms, and knowing these categories will help you choose the plants that best suit your needs.
Dinnerplate Dahlias
These are the giants of the dahlia world. Dinnerplate dahlias, such as the creamy Cafe au Lait or the sunshine-yellow Kelvin Floodlight, produce massive blooms that can reach 8 to 10 inches across. These are spectacular in the garden and make a massive statement in a single-flower vase. Because the flowers are so large and heavy, these plants almost always require sturdy staking.
Decorative Dahlias
This is the most common category and offers a wide range of colors and sizes. Decorative dahlias have flat petals that are often slightly blunt at the tips. They are excellent "workhorse" plants for the garden, providing consistent color from mid-summer until the first frost. Varieties like 'Thomas Edison' (a deep purple favorite) fall into this group.
Ball and Pompon Dahlias
If you love symmetry, ball and pompon dahlias are perfect for you. These blooms are shaped like perfect spheres with neatly spiraled petals. Ball dahlias are slightly larger, while pompons are usually no bigger than a golf ball. They are incredibly hardy in bouquets because their petals are tucked tightly together, making them less prone to bruising.
Cactus and Semi-Cactus Dahlias
These varieties have long, narrow petals that curve backward, giving the flower a spiky or "starburst" appearance. They add a wonderful architectural texture to garden beds. Varieties like 'Arabian Night' offer a semi-cactus form with rich, dark petals that look stunning when paired with lighter colors.
Border and Container Dahlias
Not everyone has space for a four-foot-tall plant. If you are gardening on a patio or in a small space, look for "gallery" or "border" dahlias. These are bred to stay short and bushy, usually reaching only 12 to 18 inches in height. They don't require staking and provide a dense carpet of color that is perfect for the front of a flower bed. For more compact options, browse the border dahlias collection.
"Choosing a mix of bloom shapes and sizes creates a more dynamic garden. Pair the massive presence of dinnerplates with the delicate symmetry of ball dahlias for a professional-looking display."
When to Buy and When to Plant
Timing is everything when it comes to buying dahlia plants. Because these are tropical plants originally from Mexico and Central America, they are very sensitive to cold temperatures.
Ordering Early
Most gardeners start buying their dahlia tubers in January, February, or March. This is when the selection is at its peak. While we won't ship the tubers until the weather is safe for transport, ordering early ensures you get the specific varieties you want. Some of the most popular dahlias, like 'Cafe au Lait', can sell out quickly.
Shipping Schedules
We time our shipping based on your USDA hardiness zone. This means we wait to send your tubers until the danger of hard freezing during transit has passed and your local planting time is approaching. Generally, we aim to have your order arrive about two weeks before it is time to put them in the ground. This gives you a little time to inspect your tubers and prepare your planting site.
The Best Time to Plant
Even if you buy your dahlias early, you must wait for the soil to warm up before planting. A simple rule of thumb is to plant dahlias at the same time you would plant tomatoes. The soil should be at least 60°F, and all danger of frost must be gone. If you plant too early in cold, wet soil, the tubers may rot before they have a chance to sprout.
Safe Storage Tips
If your tubers arrive and the ground is still too cold or wet, don't worry. You can easily keep them in a dormant state for a few weeks. Keep them in a cool (40–50°F), dark, and dry place like a basement or an unheated garage. Leave them in the packaging they arrived in to prevent them from drying out completely.
What to Expect When Your Order Arrives
Buying dahlia plants online is a different experience than picking up a plant at a store. When your box from Longfield Gardens arrives, here is what you can expect to find inside.
Inspecting Your Tubers
Open your package immediately. Inside, you will find dormant tubers that may look a bit like shriveled sweet potatoes. It is normal for them to be a little dusty or have a bit of peat moss clinging to them. This is how they stay protected during shipping.
Check each tuber to ensure it feels firm to the touch. It is okay if the tuber looks a bit wrinkled—this is common for dormant roots. As long as it isn't mushy or extremely brittle, it is healthy and ready to grow.
Looking for "Eyes"
You may or may not see "eyes" on your tubers when they arrive. An eye is a small bump or a tiny green sprout located near the neck of the tuber, where it connects to the old stem. This is where the new growth will emerge. Some varieties "wake up" faster than others. Even if you don't see an eye yet, the tuber will usually develop one once it is tucked into warm, moist soil.
Our Quality Guarantee
We stand behind the quality of every plant we ship. Our 100% quality guarantee means that your items should arrive in prime condition and be true to the variety you ordered. If you notice any damage from shipping or have concerns about the quality of the tubers, we ask that you contact us promptly after delivery so we can make it right.
Handling and Preparation:
- Unbox your tubers as soon as they arrive.
- Keep the variety labels attached to the tubers or keep them in their labeled bags until planting.
- If you see sprouts, handle them gently so they don't snap off.
- If a sprout does break, don't panic! The tuber will usually produce a secondary bud.
Success Strategies for Growing Your New Dahlias
Once you have purchased your dahlias, the real fun begins. Growing these plants is incredibly rewarding because they grow so fast and produce such a high volume of flowers. To get the best return on your investment, keep these simple gardening rules in mind.
Find the Best Spot
Dahlias are sun-lovers. They need a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight every day to produce strong stems and plenty of blooms. If they are planted in too much shade, they will become "leggy" (tall and weak) and may not flower at all.
Soil and Drainage
"Drainage" simply means how fast water leaves the soil. Dahlias hate "wet feet," which can cause the tubers to rot. If your soil stays soggy after a rain, consider planting your dahlias in a raised bed or a large container with drainage holes. They prefer loose, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter.
Planting Depth and Spacing
Getting the depth right is a quiet winner for dahlia success. Dig a hole about 4 to 6 inches deep. Lay the tuber horizontally (flat) in the hole with the eye (if visible) facing up. Cover it with soil, but do not water it immediately unless the soil is bone-dry. The tuber has enough stored energy to start growing on its own, and too much water early on can lead to rot.
Space your plants based on their mature size. Large decorative and dinnerplate varieties need about 18 to 24 inches of space between them to allow for good air circulation. Smaller border dahlias can be planted 12 inches apart.
Watering and Feeding
Once you see green sprouts poking through the soil, you can begin watering regularly. The goal is to water deeply a few times a week rather than giving them a light sprinkle every day. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow further down into the soil, which makes the plant more stable.
Dahlias are "heavy feeders," meaning they use a lot of nutrients to produce those big blooms. Using a low-nitrogen fertilizer every few weeks once the plants are about a foot tall will help support vigorous growth. Follow the instructions on your fertilizer label for the best results.
To Do Next:
- Wait for the soil to reach 60°F before planting.
- Plant the tuber 4–6 inches deep in a horizontal position.
- Avoid watering until you see the first green shoots.
- Stake tall varieties early, before the plant gets too large.
Understanding Regional Variations
Dahlias are incredibly adaptable, but your experience buying and growing them will vary slightly depending on where you live.
In Northern Climates
In colder regions (Zones 3–7), dahlias are treated as "tender perennials" or annuals. This means they will grow beautifully all summer but will not survive a freezing winter in the ground. Many gardeners in the north buy new tubers every year, while others choose to dig them up in the fall and store them indoors for the winter.
In Southern Climates
In warmer regions (Zones 8–10), dahlias can sometimes stay in the ground year-round if the soil doesn't freeze. However, dahlias can struggle with extreme heat and humidity in the peak of summer. In these areas, dahlias often have two blooming peaks: one in the late spring and another, even more spectacular one in the autumn when the nights begin to cool down.
Adjusting for Soil Types
If you have heavy clay soil, adding some compost or peat moss can help improve drainage. In very sandy soil, which drains very quickly, you may need to water more frequently to keep the plants hydrated. Observing how your garden handles water will help you make these small adjustments.
Conclusion
Buying dahlias is one of the most rewarding investments you can make for your summer garden. While you can occasionally find potted plants locally, the variety, quality, and value found in purchasing dormant tubers online is hard to beat. By choosing high-quality tubers and waiting for the right planting window, you set the stage for a season filled with incredible color and endless bouquets.
At Longfield Gardens, we are here to help you succeed. From selecting the perfect 'Cafe au Lait' dinnerplate to ensuring your order arrives exactly when it is time to plant, our goal is to make your gardening journey as enjoyable as possible. With a little bit of sun, well-draining soil, and the right timing, you can transform your yard into a dahlia paradise.
- Dahlias are primarily sold as tubers, which are dormant roots that store energy for the plant.
- Buying online offers the best selection of colors, shapes, and sizes.
- Wait for warm soil (60°F) before planting to prevent tuber rot.
- Most dahlia varieties make excellent cut flowers and will bloom until the first frost.
"There is a dahlia for every gardener, whether you have a massive backyard or just a few sunny pots on a patio. Starting with a healthy tuber is the simplest way to ensure a summer full of blooms."
Ready to start your dahlia journey? Visit our shop to explore our current selection of high-quality tubers and find the perfect match for your garden today.
FAQ
Is it better to buy dahlia tubers or potted plants?
Most gardeners prefer buying tubers because they are more affordable and offer a much wider variety of colors and flower shapes. While potted plants offer a head start in late spring, tubers planted in warm soil grow very quickly and will usually match the size of a potted plant within a few weeks. Tubers are also easier to ship and handle without damaging the plant.
When is the best time to buy dahlia tubers?
The best time to buy dahlia tubers is in the late winter or early spring (January through March) to ensure the best selection. While the tubers won't be shipped until the weather is safe for planting in your area, ordering early prevents popular varieties from selling out. Most online retailers will schedule your delivery based on your specific USDA hardiness zone.
What should a healthy dahlia tuber look like when it arrives?
A healthy dahlia tuber should feel firm, much like a potato. It is normal for them to look slightly wrinkled or dusty, and they may not have visible sprouts (eyes) yet. As long as the tuber is not mushy, moldy, or completely dried out and brittle, it is healthy and ready to grow once it is planted in warm soil.
Can I buy dahlias that are already blooming?
You can sometimes find blooming dahlias in large containers at local nurseries in mid-to-late summer. However, these are often quite expensive and may experience transplant shock when moved to your garden. Buying tubers in the spring allows the plant to establish a strong root system in your specific soil, resulting in a healthier plant that will bloom continuously until the first frost.
