Bulb · Asteraceae family
garden dahlia
Dahlia ×pinnata
In short a 10-second read
Garden dahlia (bulb) grows to 0.3–1.9 m tall and 0.3–0.9 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in July–October; the flowers are red, pink, purple, orange, yellow or white. Hardy to −18 °C.
× spread 0.3–0.9 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −18 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: a lot
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Soil pH 6–7.5
Frost
It overwinters outdoors; in cold, windy spots winter protection is worth it.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
July–October · red, pink, purple, orange, yellow or white
Pruning
deadhead spent flowers (July–September); pinch out the tips (May–June)
Planting
bulb: April–May
Winter protection
lift and store over winter
Overwintering
In winter it needs protection.
Before the first frosts: lift and store over winter.
- Lift and store over winter
- Hardy to −18 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does garden dahlia flower?
In July–October; the flowers are red, pink, purple, orange, yellow or white.
Does garden dahlia tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does garden dahlia need?
At maturity 0.3–0.9 m wide and 0.3–1.9 m tall; recommended spacing 60 cm.
Does garden dahlia survive winter outdoors?
Yes, with protection: lift and store over winter.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 2 September 2026.
Show sources (13)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Dahlia
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Dahlia
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Dahlia pinnata
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Dahlia pinnata
- Wikidata (CC0) — Dahlia pinnata
- EPPO Global Database — Dahlia pinnata
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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