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.

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 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 from 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.

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 short dahlia varieties called curb, starting from 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.

Comment! Low-growing dahlias are less demanding when it comes to watering.

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.

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 don't 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.

Watch a short video showing low-growing dahlia varieties grown from seed:

Conclusion

We hope that we have persuaded even city dwellers to have a couple of low-growing dahlias as potted plants. Believe me, they are so beautiful, bloom so profusely and respond to the slightest care that it is impossible not to love them.

Varieties of low-growing dahlias: cultivation and care