Open heart dahlias

What makes an open heart dahlia so special?

A wide range, from single varieties to mixes

Compact enough for a pot, large enough for the border

Frequently asked questions about open heart dahlias

• What is the difference between an open heart dahlia and other dahlias?
  An open heart dahlia has an open, visible flower centre surrounded by one or two rows of petals. In closed dahlias, such as ball or decorative dahlias, the centre is completely filled with petals and inaccessible to insects. Open heart dahlias are therefore the most bee-friendly type of dahlia.
• When do open heart dahlias flower?
  Open heart dahlias flower from July until the first frost in autumn, sometimes well into October or November. The more often you pick or cut the flowers, the more new buds the plant will produce and the longer the flowering period will last.
• Are open heart dahlias suitable for a pot or balcony?
  Yes, compact varieties such as Dahlia Little Swan, Bright Eyes and Waltzing Mathilda are ideal for a large pot or planter on a balcony or patio. Choose a pot at least 30 centimetres deep with good drainage, and place it in a sunny spot.
• When should you plant open heart dahlia tubers?
  Plant the tubers outdoors from mid-May, once the risk of night frost has passed. You can start them off indoors in a pot from early March for slightly earlier flowering.
• Are open heart dahlias hardy?
  No, dahlias are sensitive to frost. After the first night frost or when the foliage begins to die back, dig the tubers out of the ground and store them in a dry, dark and frost-free place at a cool temperature of around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius until the following spring.
• Which open heart dahlia is the most bee-friendly?
  Virtually all open heart dahlias are bee-friendly thanks to their accessible flower centre. Varieties with a high-contrast yellow centre, such as ‘Mexican Star’ and ‘Bright Eyes’, attract particularly large numbers of bees and hoverflies due to the distinct colour marking that acts as a beacon for pollinators.