Low-growing (border) dahlia varieties with photos and names: growing from seeds, planting, care, photo

Description of low-growing dahlias

Among the advantages of low-growing dahlias, it can be noted that there is no need for pinching side shoots. Also, there is no need to install supports and tie flowers, which is beneficial from an economic point of view. The flowers are suitable for decorating front gardens, large gardens, as well as city streets, for which dahlias are nicknamed border flowers.

Dahlias do not live in winter soil. A unique feature is the longevity of the flower, as well as the fact that they are able to bloom several times per season. Agronomists have come up with several combined species in which the flowers have different colors and shades. In general, inflorescences are divided into the following types:

• Non-double;
• Partially terry;
• Fully terry.

The plant blooms until the onset of severe cold. Afterwards you need to remove the dahlia from the ground. You can decorate the space around the gazebo, borders and other places with flowers.

It is very important that the chosen location has enough sunlight, since dahlias are characterized as heat-loving flowers. By additionally fertilizing the soil, you can help improve the quality of the inflorescences. Cow manure or chicken manure containing organic additives is suitable as a fertilizer. You can also use mineral fertilizers, but the substances contained in them do not give the required effect.

We buy dahlia seedlings

One of the few disadvantages of these beautiful and majestic plants is their fragility. People fell in love with dahlias for their amazingly long flowering period - it’s no joke, you can admire dahlia flowers for five months a year. However, most varieties of dahlias are hybrid and annual. Even those varieties that bloom for several years produce much smaller flowers with thin petals the very next year, and after a couple of years even perennial varieties of dahlias degenerate, and you have to go to the garden store again to buy border dahlias.

1. It is best to buy dahlia seedlings in the spring, a couple of weeks before planting.
2. When choosing seedlings, special attention should be paid to the condition of the roots. The tuber should look strong and heavy, and the first shoots of future flowers should be visible on its surface.
3. Cracked soil on the rhizome is a very bad sign. Under no circumstances should you take such a seedling, since dahlias are very fond of air and water. Without a sufficiently moist environment, they do not live long. If the rhizome looks soft or dry, there is no point in planting it.
4. Often sellers use a trick and carefully pack the rhizomes of seedlings in plastic bags. Think carefully when buying such a “pig in a poke”, since, most likely, a damaged rhizome is hidden under a layer of polyethylene, from which it will be impossible to grow a full-fledged flower.

Varieties

Popular varieties of low-growing dahlias include the following varieties:

• Goldband . The maximum height is half a meter. It belongs to the type of non-double flowers and has a yellow tint. The lifespan of a flower is 4 years from the moment of first planting. There is no need to transplant to another place.
• Rosaband . Like the first type, the maximum length is half a meter. Has pink non-double buds. Quite a whimsical variety that requires intensive watering.
• Puppurband . The average length of the stems is 40 centimeters. The peculiarity lies in the double shade - purple and carmine. Used to decorate borders. A heat-loving plant, it can be exposed to direct sunlight for a long time.
• Minion . A whole collection of plants. Height – 55 centimeters, one of the tallest types of flowers. It differs in the shape of the bushes, which are very reminiscent of flower beds. The plant is a hybrid bred by foreign breeders. There are several shades of inflorescences, including yellow and purple.

There are many varieties of low-growing dahlias, but the varieties listed above are actively used by gardeners and flower lovers. The advantage of these plants is accessibility, low price, full compliance with the specified characteristics, as well as immunity to pests (some types of low-growing dahlias are immune to diseases and aggressive activity of aphids).

conclusions

The majestic and bright inflorescences of dahlias can transform any summer cottage. These plants have no equal in terms of flowering time. You will be able to admire them for almost six months. For a novice gardener, the process of planting and caring for border dahlias may seem too complicated, but once you try, you will understand that there is nothing complicated in caring for border dahlias. Dahlia (the scientific name for these flowers), like all living things in this world, requires only a little care and attention on your part.

Landing rules

Planting is a whole algorithm of actions, the correctness of which determines the intensity of flower growth, as well as the richness of the color of the inflorescences. For example, with a lack of organic fertilizers, dahlias lose their color: the yellow tint fades, vaguely resembling the color of sand. Having carried out the correct planting, and subsequently digging it up and storing it during the winter season, the flower will delight you with its pleasant blooms for several years.

The planting site should be enriched with sunlight, but not too dry. Otherwise, there will be a severe need for abundant watering. Unlike tall dahlias, low-growing plant varieties do not tolerate drafts and wind, and their need for air circulation is much lower.

The soil should be fertilized, preferably in advance, several months before planting. You can feed the soil with manure or humus, but only of organic origin. The soil must be moist, so a dark place will be the ideal solution to the current problem.

After fertilizing with humus, it is time to fertilize the soil with minerals, which must include phosphorus and potassium. If you plant dahlias in sandy soil, you need fertilizers containing boron and zinc. It is recommended to use complex fertilizers, which contain the necessary components in a small proportion.

Low-growing dahlias can be planted in several ways:

• Seeds. The first shoots emerge from the ground within a week. In the treated soil we make small depressions with a diameter of 5-7 centimeters and a depth of about 20 centimeters. Place the seeds inside and sprinkle fertilizer on top. After planting, you must immediately water the seeds;
• By cuttings. From an existing flower, you need to cut off the side stems that have reached a length of 10 centimeters. It is imperative to make a cut at an angle of 45 degrees, otherwise the stem may not germinate. After the shoots have been cut, wrap them in film and leave them on a shelf under an ultraviolet lamp for 10 days. The first roots will appear quickly, after which the plant can be placed in the ground;
• Tuber. In order to successfully plant a tuber, a warm day is required and the soil must be well warmed up. Initially, we dig a corresponding square-shaped hole (40 centimeters long and 40 centimeters deep). In the center of the hole we make a small depression of 10 centimeters to immerse the roots there. We place the fertilizer in the hole, then place the tuber.

Other growing methods are irrelevant, as they cause a lot of trouble. It is recommended to plant in late May - early June, when the ground is well warmed up.

Growing methods

There are 3 methods for growing low-growing dahlias:

1. The rarest way is to sow seeds in pots. These varieties have good germination, and sprouts appear within 4-5 days. The seedlings are transferred to open ground in mid-May, and the first buds form after 2.5-3 months.
2. To propagate the crop by root tubers, they are divided into small “nests”. It is necessary to divide planting material so that the plants bloom better and do not age so quickly. If this is not done for 5-6 years, then the culture may degenerate. The separated “nests” are cut with a knife so that each specimen has a root collar with buds. The sections are disinfected by treating with crushed charcoal.
3. Excellent results are obtained by cutting crops. For this purpose, shoots 6-8 cm long are taken, then each of them is cut at an angle. Planting is carried out in peat or sand, which is recommended to be calcined beforehand. Containers with cuttings covered with film are placed on a shelf and provide lighting. To make roots appear faster, you need to use Epin, Kornevin or other growth stimulants. When cuttings are taken in May, root formation occurs within 2 weeks.

Caring for low-growing dahlias

Care is an important part when growing dahlias. Thanks to proper care, you can protect the plant from early death, as well as prevent the development of diseases and pests.

First of all, you need to feed the plant. Fertilization is carried out with a complex feed containing all the necessary substances. It is important to purchase liquid fertilizer, which must be diluted in water.

For the purposes described above, Kemira Universal . One ampoule of the product (15 grams) needs to be diluted in 12 liters of water and poured under the bushes. One bush requires approximately 2 liters of liquid. The first fertilizing is carried out 2 weeks after planting. In the future, fertilizing the soil and plants is done every 14 days.

For additional prevention, a potassium-phosphorus based fertilizer is used. This tool allows you to accelerate the growth of the plant without harming it.

Reproduction

Low-growing dahlias reproduce vegetatively. The existing tuber needs to be divided into several parts. It is very important that each individual piece contains roots and shoots. According to the rules of care, the tuber is divided once a season. This manipulation allows the plant to live for a long time.

We divide the tuber (nest) into equal parts containing the root collar. Next, place it in a container with fertilizer so that the top remains above the ground. Leave in a warm room with good air circulation for 14 days.

Winter storage of low-growing dahlias

Closer to the onset of frost (late October, early November), you need to dig up the plant, since the first cold weather can harm the dahlia. Having dug the tuber from all sides, carefully remove it along with the soil. Next, we clean the soil from all sides, rinse the rhizome with warm water and wrap it in cloth.

A basement free of dampness is suitable for storing the flower. You need to take a dry, preferably wooden container (box or drawer) and place newspaper or cloth on the bottom. Sprinkle fertilizer on it and place the tuber on top. The room temperature should not exceed 10 degrees.

Digging and storing dahlias

With the onset of the first frost, dahlia tubers should be immediately dug up and stored. These pampered, heat-loving flowers are not adapted to wintering.

1. A few days before digging up the rhizomes, remove excess buds and foliage from the plants. Under no circumstances should this be done on the same day as digging.
2. In the period from the tenth to the twentieth of October, you should guess the day when the weather will be dry and, if not warm, then at least sunny. Excessive soil moisture threatens that the tubers may simply rot during storage.
3. To keep dahlia tubers safe and sound, it is recommended to wrap the stems in foil after digging them up. When the plant dries out a little, all soil and compost should be removed from it.
4. To preserve tubers until next year, first of all, you need to monitor the humidity level. Drying out threatens that next year the dahlias will grow weak and unviable, but excess moisture again threatens that the flower will simply rot.
5. When digging up tubers, some damage to the root system is inevitable. If the cuts are significant, they are sprinkled with a special composition of chalk and charcoal.
6. As in the case of flowers, the dahlia tubers themselves also need not only sufficient humidity, but also air. That is why it is recommended to store dahlia tubers in the cellar or at least on the balcony (until the first frost), since there is a good level of ventilation there. Subsequently, the tubers can be transferred to the refrigerator. The optimal temperature is five degrees Celsius.
7. It is important to remember that dahlia tubers should be stored in a special composition, and not just on newspaper. Peat or at least ash is perfect for these purposes. Sand and sawdust can also be added, but storing tubers in clean sand is not recommended.
8. Dahlia tubers are often waxed. This method allows you to reduce the amount of hassle associated with the proper storage of tubers of these capricious plants. For this purpose, you will need to melt a decent amount of paraffin in a water bath (it all depends on how many tubers you decide to save). After which the dahlia tuber is placed in a paraffin composition for a few seconds. Having pulled out the tuber, you will see how a characteristic film instantly forms. When the process of primary hardening of the paraffin is completed, the seedling should be re-immersed in the paraffin. After which you should roll the tuber a little in your hands so that the crust covering the seedling cracks a little, and passages are formed for the flow of air and moisture. Then such a tuber should be dipped into peat and forgotten about until May. Only occasionally, at least once a month, is it worth looking at dahlia seedlings. This should be done solely in order not to miss the moment when one of the tubers begins to rot. Such seedlings should be thrown away immediately, as rot can very quickly spread among other seedlings.

Low-growing and dwarf dahlias: photos with names

Dahlia (Dahlia) belongs to the Asteraceae family, came to us from Chile, its genus is numerous and diverse. But, despite this, natural species are practically not used in cultivated floriculture - they are bred exclusively by collectors and originals. This is not surprising, because varietal dahlias are many times superior to them in their decorative qualities. Now there are more than 15,000 varieties, and their number is growing every season.

These flowers are remarkable for their diversity: the tallest varieties exceed one and a half meters in height, while the short ones may not reach 30 cm, the inflorescence sizes range from 3 to 25 cm and more. Dahlia flowers can be simple, double, semi-double, with open or curled petals; there are even “collar” inflorescences. Nature does not skimp on color - it can be snow-white, all shades of yellow, orange, pink, lilac, red, and there are varieties that are almost black in color. Very often, dahlias are painted with several harmoniously combined colors. Recently, low-growing dahlias have become very popular.

Border dahlias - a little history

Who would have thought that a plant whose homeland is considered to be sunny Mexico would take root in the cold Russian climate? Miracles still happen. For centuries, the Indians of Mexico have used this plant for their needs. Dahlias were used to treat epilepsy, were eaten, and the strong, hollow stems of the flowers were used as breathing tubes. Surprisingly, the inhabitants of Latin America were not at all impressed by the beauty of these flowers; the plant was valued primarily for its hollow stems, which could be used for various household needs. But the Spaniards who came ashore in Mexico back in the 16th century were struck by the beauty of these spreading and fluffy flowers. It was the Spaniards who brought dahlias to Europe. Very soon they found out about these flowers in Great Britain, Germany and France. By the way, dahlias were the favorite flowers of Josephine, the famous lover of Napoleon.

Dahlias came to Russia only in the 19th century. It was then that they came up with this proud name. In the world, these flowers were already known as “dalia,” but in Russia they decided to give them a new name. Karl Wildenov named these flowers in honor of the Russian scientist Johann Georgi. By the way, in botany it is customary to say “dahlia,” but in non-specialized literature the name of the flower has long been used exclusively in the masculine gender: “dahlia.”

Life cycle and structure of dahlias

Dahlia is a perennial plant with a pronounced dormant period. Its above-ground part dies off every year, and the root tubers are a “storehouse” with a supply of nutrients and serve as the basis for the development of the plant in the next growing season.

Structure of dahlias

Dahlias consist of:

• Root cones or root tubers, which are thickened roots that store a supply of moisture and nutrients. They allow the plant to go through a dormant period; in the new season, this is where the vegetative processes begin.
• Root collar - it is the lower part of the stem to which modified roots are attached. When digging up a dahlia in the fall, it cannot be cut; new stems will form at its base after emerging from the dormant period. If you completely cut off the root collar, all you have to do is throw away the root tubers - they will not produce new plants.
• Stems. Despite the fact that the stems of dahlias are hollow, they are quite strong. But still, tall plants need to be tied to a support - dahlias bloom profusely, and the inflorescences can be very large. Often the shoot simply cannot withstand the weight of the flowers.
• Inflorescences. The dahlia inflorescence is a complex basket colored with a wide variety of colors. It consists of marginal reed and tubular flowers. Marginal flowers can be flat, wrapped inward or outward, modified collared, and tubular flowers can be open or remain buds until they wither.

Life cycle of dahlia

Dahlias have a one-year growing season with a pronounced dormant period. A new cycle can begin only after the previous one is completely completed. If you transplant a dahlia into a pot, bring it into a warm room for the winter, water it and feed it, it will simply die. After the first frosts hit, the stems must be cut off, the root tubers are brought into a dark, cool room with a temperature of 5-8 degrees and allowed to rest for several months.

A new vegetation cycle begins with the awakening of root cones; they are brought into a warm room, moistened and exposed to light. With the onset of suitable weather, dahlias are planted in open ground, where they grow and bloom throughout the warm period. After the onset of frost, the root tubers are taken out of the ground, and everything is repeated all over again.

All dahlias can be propagated by cuttings, and some low-growing varieties are often propagated using seeds. In the first months of life, they behave like most plants - their life cycle begins either with seed germination or with the formation of roots, but soon root tubers are formed, and in winter they go into winter as full-fledged representatives of their genus with all its inherent features.

Tall varieties of dahlias and giants

Among dahlias, there are, as you probably already understood, not only small representatives, but also tall plants and even giants, the height of some of them reaches more than 1.5 meters, the size of the flowers is shocking, they are no less than 15-35 cm in diameter.

But despite their height and seemingly strength, they are all very picky. Often, even experienced gardeners fail to grow such a giant due to mistakes made during care.

Either they didn’t add fertilizer or they didn’t water at the right time. Or sometimes they simply forgot to tie it, and due to the weight, the stem breaks and the flower falls. And this is the most common thing that can happen with such flowers.

Here are some representatives of tall handsome men.

Yellow Star

A fringed variety with beautiful bright yellow flowers. The height of the stems can reach a size of up to 120 cm, the diameter of the flower is 10-15 cm. The formation of buds and flowering takes place from July to October, until the first frost.

It is very sensitive to weather conditions and also needs fertilizer. The best of which is either black soil or cow manure, but only in small quantities.

Prefers well-lit places with good air ventilation, but at the same time does not tolerate drafts. It does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil at all.

Myrtle's Folly

This dahlia was mentioned above, but it is worth paying attention to the fact that various pests love to eat it, so be careful.

And it should also be taken into account that the lifespan of root tubers is 4-6 years.

Downham Royal

The giant "Downham Royal" is common in the flower business as it has a thick stem and beautiful flower design, which makes it easy to cut. It can please the eye for a long time when placed in a vase with water, but only at a low temperature.

Its stem size is 110 cm in height, and the flower size is up to 20 cm in diameter. Moreover, it has a spherical shape, and the beautiful petals are rolled into tubes.

An interesting fact about this flower is that, unlike its counterparts, it tolerates changes associated with temperature more easily, but propagation of the flower by tubers is very problematic. If you plan to breed them, then be careful, because if you leave the tuber without a shoot, then with a 75% chance it will not germinate and you will be left with nothing.

And there are also other tall representatives:

• Arabian night
• Rosabela
• Orange
• Fatima
• Ankress
• White Perfection
• Kelvin Floodlight.
• Jocondo
• Alltami Apollo

Low growing dahlias

Low-growing dahlias are called dwarf, midget, and minion. They became especially popular not so long ago, after new, very beautiful and diverse varieties appeared. Lilliputians are resistant to diseases and unfavorable conditions and are excellent for growing as a potted or container plant.

Comment! The lower the dahlias, the earlier they bloom.

Often, low-growing varieties of dahlias are called border varieties, based on the fact that border plants are usually the smallest plants. This is incorrect in relation to dahlias; there is an International classification, according to which border varieties grow in height from 60 cm and above. Dwarf dahlias usually have bushes of about 30 cm.

It should be noted that the height of this flower very much depends on the growing and planting conditions. The same variety, depending on the circumstances, can easily reach 40-50 cm with an average height of 30 cm or not want to exceed 20 cm. This depends on the fertility and structure of the soil, watering, fertilizing, and the environmental situation. Remember, the better conditions are created for the dahlia, the higher it will grow. Interestingly, this does not apply to flowering; often the increase in vegetative mass comes at the expense of flowering.

Varieties of low-growing dahlias

The International Classification of Dahlias, which was adopted in 1962, did not even include low-growing varieties, they were so few in number and uninteresting. If flower lovers belonging to the older generation are asked what low-growing varieties of dahlias they know, most of them will only remember “cheerful men.”

The rise in popularity of low-growing dahlias is associated with the appearance of the “Gallery” variety series, a Dutch selection bred when the boom in container and potted garden flowers began.

Variety series "Gallery"

After 15 years of painstaking work, in 1994, a collection of dahlia varieties of the Dutch selection “Gallery” was presented. These are completely double varieties of extraordinary beauty, as can be clearly seen in the photo, suitable for growing in pots and containers. During winter storage, they do not take up much space, can remain in pots, tolerate waxing well and can be stored in the vegetable section of the refrigerator.

Typically, the size of the bush varies around 40 cm, but greatly depends on the growing conditions. If you want to get more compact bushes, water the plants moderately and do not overdo it with fertilizers and soil fertility. The inflorescences are quite large for such growth - 10-15 cm.

Gallery Cobra

An excellent orange variety with slightly inward reed flowers.

Gallery Renoir

A variety with very beautiful pink double inflorescences.

Gallery La Tour

The pink petals of the flowers of this variety have a barely noticeable purple tint at the tips.

Gallery Bellini

The variety has bright pink double flowers, the inner part of the petals is very light.

Gallery Vincent

The orange flowers of this variety have an original shape.

Gallery Rembrandt

Low-growing variety with pink delicate flowers.

Gallery Vermeer

Golden variety with large inflorescences and pointed petals.

Gallery Art Fire

A snow-white, low-growing variety with a slightly yellowish center and buds.

Gallery Serenade

The yellow inflorescence with slightly wavy petals adds extra charm to this low-growing variety.

Gallery Art Nouveau

The variety is deep pink in color with the edge petals slightly curved to one side.

Gallery Pablo

A low-growing variety whose yellow petals have a salmon-pink fuzzy edge.

Gallery Sezan

White variety with a slight yellow tint.

Gallery Art Deco

A very beautiful flower of bright red tones.

Gallery Sisley

Pink-purple variety with a dark center.

Gallery Singer

A low-growing variety with a classic red shape.

Gallery Salvador

A low-growing variety with pink petals covered with streaks of darker color.

Gallery of Coins

A very beautiful flower of an original shape, white petals with blurred purple strokes.

Low-growing dahlias "minion"

“Minion” is a very conventional designation. It usually combines varieties that can be propagated by seeds. Their main advantage is that there is no need to store planting material, and dahlias grown from seedlings bloom very early and produce buds until frost. They grow well outdoors and as a container plant.

This does not mean that the tubers formed over the summer must be left in the ground; they can be dug up and sprouted next spring, like an ordinary dahlia. It should be noted that flowers of the next generation, grown from their own seeds, may lose their fullness.

Comment! You can sow the seeds directly into the ground when the ground thaws, but don't expect flowers until August.

Funny boys

These low-growing flowers can be double or simple, have a wide variety of colors, and are easily propagated by seeds.

Piccolo

Low-growing semi-double flowers of various colors.

Figaro

Low-growing double dahlias of various colors, somewhat reminiscent of low chrysanthemums. They overwinter well directly in pots and can bloom in the second year at the end of May.

"Dahlia fireworks": low-growing series and varieties

The first short representatives of this culture were created quite a long time ago - these are the same Merry guys from the Minion group. But the real rise in popularity begins in the mid-90s of the twentieth century, when the Geleri variety series was developed as a response to the boom in container flowers.

We suggest that you familiarize yourself with a brief description of dahlias of low-growing series, as well as the most popular varieties with photos and names.

Dahlias Geleri

The Geleri series was obtained by crossing border varieties with low-growing natural crop species. The result is a bush, the height of which does not exceed 30–35 cm. The real admiration is caused by the “baby” flower - large (ø 6–10 cm), densely double, with slightly curled petals. Dahlia Geleri blooms non-stop - from July to October, when growing a tuber - from June. The series consists of 17 varieties with a wide range of tones. Most Popular:

• Art Deco – fiery red-orange terry ball;
• Pinto – bright yellow with a greenish tint;
• Rembrandt - pink with a cream star in the center of the pompom;
• Pablo - yellow with a blurred salmon-pink edge of the petals;
• Singer - rich scarlet color with a glossy sheen;
• Vermeer - large golden flower;
• Monet – white with large lilac strokes, etc.

Other advantages of the culture include unpretentiousness in terms of lighting, easy care, and early, abundant flowering.

Topmix Series

Low-growing Topmix dahlias are similar to the Merry Guys we are used to, only a little lower. The plants form lush bushes 25–30 cm high, densely dotted with small flowers (ø3–5 cm). The shape of the corolla is simple, single-row, with reed petals along the edge and yellow tubular petals in the middle of the inflorescence. They can be grown from seeds.

All varieties of the series are called Topmix with the addition of color (Red, Orange, White, etc.).

Variety series Dakhlinova

This is one of the new dwarf groups, so now it can only be found among collectors. The height of the bush is 20–30 cm, but the flowers for such midgets are simply huge - up to 10 cm in diameter, double, with dense curled petals. Variety series reproduces by tubers. Compact bushes feel great in pots, balcony boxes, flowerpots, and flower beds.

Known varieties:

• Arizona – salmon pink with coral tint;
• Virginia – sunny yellow, large-flowered;
• Louisiana - purple-crimson with a burgundy spot at the base of the petals and a yellow center;
• Colorado - with a white flower;
• Oregon – deep red.

Dahlias Melody

The variety series among low-growing dahlias is one of the tallest - the bushes reach 55-60 cm. The flower is also impressive - 10-12 cm in diameter, double, spherical, with a magnificent rich color. Outwardly, they are similar to Geleri, since, in fact, they are its modern continuation. If Melody dahlias are planted in a pot early in the spring and then transplanted into a flower bed, they will bloom at the end of May and will delight you with continuous flowering until frost.

Here are examples of varieties from this group:

• Bolero – bright red dahlia;
• Harmony – soft lilac with lilac touches;
• Swing – purple-red;
• Pink Allegro – hot pink;
• Dixie – white with lilac edging of petals;
• Mambo – burgundy.

Impression Group

Variety series Impreshen is a low-growing variety of collared dahlias. The height of the bush is from 30 cm to half a meter. The flower, although not double, is very elegant - it consists of two types of petals, long, reed-shaped along the outer contour, and short, curled in the inner row. The diameter of the open flower is 6–10 cm.

Examples of Impreshen varieties:

• Festivo - red with a collar of red-cream and yellow petals;
• Fantastico - purple with white splashes along the collar;
• Fabula – lilac with a white and pink collar.

Caring for low-growing dahlia varieties

By and large, caring for low-growing varieties is no different from caring for tall border dahlias - except that you don’t need to tie them up or pinch them. Moreover, depending on their growth, they need just a little less - water, fertilizing, care.

After germination, they are planted in soil or containers in the sunniest place, regularly watered, and moderately fertilized. It is better not to feed dahlias with organic matter and not to loosen them. They need to be planted in loose soil and mulched - so you need to water less, and weeds will not grow.

If you remove faded inflorescences in time, more buds will form. Often, late in the fall, nature plays tricks on us - first there will be frost, then again the temperature will be above zero. If nothing can be done with tall dahlias, after the first frost they need to be dug up and sent to rest, then low-growing ones can still bloom. Potted plants are brought into a warm room during the cold spell and then taken back outside, while those growing in open ground can be covered with agrofibre.

Growing dahlias

The video shows border dahlias with descriptions and characteristics of proven varieties, plus instructions on how to germinate flowers by dividing the tubers.

Low-growing dahlias with names and photos

For me, among all flowers, dahlias occupy a special place. At the beginning of autumn, when the rich colors gradually fade, the grass and leaves are already thinning, they remain a bright greeting of summer. These persistent flowers proudly hold their heads and enliven a garden battered by rain and wind.

But the main disadvantage of traditional varieties is their size. We often have storms that break long stems and make the bushes look disheveled. In addition, it is not always possible to find a place for giants. However, there is a way around these disadvantages. Below I just want to talk about low-growing dahlias with an overview of popular varieties.

Features of dwarf dahlias

Although miniature dahlias are hybrids, in appearance they differ little from their ancestors, except in size: from 20 to 60 cm versus ordinary flowers, reaching up to 1.5 m. Due to their short stature, they are much more versatile: they are good to use for decorating borders, various flower beds and flowerpots.

By the way, no matter what is stated on the packaging, the height of the bush depends primarily on agricultural technology: in favorable conditions and in rich soil, dwarf dahlias grow taller, and in conditions of lack of nutrients they stop growing faster.

In addition to more convenient sizes, short dahlias have other advantages over their tall counterparts:

• Compact bushes are not so demanding of external conditions - they need less nutrients and fertilizers, less moisture. Therefore, these varieties tend to be more resilient and survive better in poor soil and dry climates.
• Low-growing bushes require less care: they do not need to be tied up to protect them from the wind, pinched or pinched.
• There is a rule - the lower the dahlia, the earlier it blooms. Among the miniature species there are more early varieties.

At the same time, today there is a huge variety of low-growing dahlias of various colors and shapes, from simple to densely double. Below I will review the main varietal groups with examples.

Border dahlias Gallery (gallery)

It was with this group that the world popularity of dwarf dahlias began. They were developed not so long ago, in the 90s of the last century, in the Netherlands and now number 17 separate items, differing in a wide palette from pastel to bright and saturated colors.

Gallery bushes reach a height of about 40 cm. At the same time, very large flowers stand out from 10 to 15 cm in diameter with a thick terry cap of a single color or contrasting color. By the way, they usually bloom in June and delight you until the first frost.

Miniature Gallery dahlias are usually planted for seedlings in March, and transferred to open ground after the end of frost. If you plan to grow them in pots, then containers larger than 5 liters are suitable. The soil is preferably rich, slightly acidic. It is better to choose a sunny place with protection from the wind.

Otherwise, this species is very tenacious, with good resistance to diseases and pests. The only thing is that they can be destroyed by a viral infection, so it is better not to plant them in the area where asters used to grow.

Of my favorite varieties, I would recommend paying attention to the following:

• Gallery Cobra with yellow flowers, which have an orange-red edge along the edge of the narrow petals;
• Gallery Art Nouveau with a bright pink flower and curved petals along the outer contour;
• Gallery of Coins, which has white and purple petals with a soft yellow base.

The best varieties of annual dahlias with descriptions of characteristics

This type of flowers is grown from seeds, which is why they are called annuals. As a rule, these are not very tall plants from 30 to 60 cm, although some varieties can grow much higher, up to 1 meter.

However, they can also be grown from tubers, which are formed in large quantities during the growth process. But while large tubers are quite easy to preserve, when they are very small, they cannot store enough water. Therefore, over a long winter without proper care, they will simply dry out. You need to know how to save them.

Planting seeds allows you to choose your favorite varieties every year or try new ones. Growing them is no more difficult than all other flowers.

Annuals are not very picky and do not require much care, which is not the case with perennials. The most famous types of annual dahlias are the following varieties.

Funny boys

This is the most popular variety among gardeners. Although it is not without its shortcomings. It happens that it does not bloom as profusely as we would like. In addition, its stems are quite thin and therefore may not hold flowers and fall apart.

The advantage is that flowering begins within 2-2.5 months after planting the seeds. It grows up to 40 cm tall and has multi-colored rosettes with a diameter of approximately 8 cm.

Figaro

This type of plant also reaches a height of about 40 cm. Its rosettes are not as large as those of the giants, but at the same time it is very beautiful and smells great. Does not require special personal care.

You can grow it both on the balcony and outside.

Piccolo

This species is especially popular among novice gardeners and owners of small flower shops. Due to its unusual appearance with a highlighted center, this flower evokes sympathy among passers-by and buyers and a desire to either touch or purchase it.

Please note that cut Picollo can live in water from 4 days to 2 weeks. This does not apply to simply broken flowers.

Unvince Dwarf

Externally, this flower resembles a chamomile, it is not noticeable and does not differ much from ordinary wildflowers, but its main feature is its unpretentiousness to weather conditions.

In addition, the maximum height of the stems reaches about 60 cm, which sets it apart from its peers. The tops of the stems, as a rule, are simply strewn with flowers with a diameter of 6-9 cm.

Vasilisa

It belongs to the dwarf varieties and has a height of about 15 cm, the flowers are not very large and are only 6-7 cm in diameter. In this regard, they are grown not only on the site, but also on the balcony. They look great in flowerpots and pots.

They are not too picky about weather conditions and with timely watering they will bloom almost until the first snow or serious frosts.

Dandy

The seeds are sold in mixed colors, which is very convenient. You can create beautiful and bright compositions in the garden. The plant is not tall, its height is only up to 50 cm. The inflorescences are semi-double with a diameter of 6-7 cm, very beautiful.

The stem is dense and durable, which prevents the inflorescences from falling apart in different directions. Unlike the Merry Guys. And they stand in the flowerbed like soldiers in formation.

Also among the well-known annual dahlias are the variety Bambino , which is a low-growing variety, and Bright Pompons , which, on the contrary, grow up to 1 meter in height.

At the same time, they have an unusual shape of petals, which seem to be folded inward and form a kind of tube. But overall it looks like a ball. The color variety of its inflorescences is amazing. They fully live up to their name.

Group of dahlia varieties Mignon

This group is distinguished very arbitrarily - it includes a wide variety of low-growing dahlias, which are usually grown not from tubers, but from seeds. Usually they are sold immediately as a mixture from which simple and double flowers, as well as of different colors, sprout.

This has an advantage - the flowerbed produces a real fireworks of colors. In addition, they are easy to grow - the seeds can even be planted directly in open ground when it has completely thawed. The flowers bloom very early compared to other varieties and last until frost, especially if the wilted parts are removed in time.

However, it is worth remembering: since all dwarf dahlias are hybrids, when growing the next generation from independently collected seeds, the flowers may lose some of their properties, for example, doubleness.

Popular types:

• Merry guys - a variety of simple and double flowers of bright colors;
• Piccolo are semi-double flowers with small heads;
• Figaro shows small double inflorescences, somewhat similar to chrysanthemums. These plants overwinter well directly in pots and can delight you with very early flowering in the second year.

Planting dahlias with seeds

Dahlia seeds can be planted in open ground at the end of May. The threat of frost is passing, and you no longer have to worry about temperature changes. The seeds are immersed in a 10% aqueous formaldehyde solution for several minutes. Then they dry well and plant. This planting method is easy and does not require growing seedlings, but lush flowering will not occur until the end of August.

Briefly about the important

• Low-growing dahlias differ from ordinary ones in size: among them there are species from 20 to 60 cm. However, it is worth remembering that the height of bushes of the same variety can vary greatly depending on external conditions: in rich soil and with good care, the flower will grow much more larger than in a less favorable environment.
• Dwarf varieties are more resilient and less demanding; they tolerate arid climates better. In addition, they require less care - they do not need to be tied up, strengthened, trimmed or pinched.
• Gallery dahlias are very noble: despite their miniature size up to 40 cm, they have extremely large double inflorescences. Coloring can be varied, from pastel to rich, from plain to contrasting and multi-colored. The shape of the petals can also be both simple and unusual. In total, the group includes at least 17 items, all of them are distinguished by good endurance and early flowering.
• Border dahlias Mignon are a conventional group that includes a wide variety of varieties. Depending on the number of petals, they can be either simple (Jolly Guys) or double (Piccolo and Figaro). Minions are distinguished by the small size of both the bush and the inflorescence and are usually sold in a random mixture of colors. They bloom very early. They are usually grown by seeds. However, it should be remembered that the second generation usually does not inherit some characteristics, for example, terry.
• Low-growing Impression dahlias stand out from the general row with their collar-shaped flower. Basically, in terms of properties and agricultural technology, they are very similar to other varieties.

Disease and pest control

One of the reasons for the popularity of border dahlias is their excellent disease resistance. The appearance of diseases is most often associated only with violations in care, mainly with excessive watering. Under such conditions, bacterial cancer or viral mosaic may develop on the bushes. These diseases cannot be treated; affected plants must be immediately dug up and burned. When powdery mildew appears on the leaves, plants should be sprayed with colloidal sulfur.

Insect pests on border dahlias can include aphids, thrips, snails and slugs. Underground tubers can be attacked by wireworms. Pests are controlled by spraying the bushes with various means, including folk remedies, such as a solution of wormwood or celandine tincture. Treating plants with a solution of laundry soap helps against aphids and thrips.