Amy Draiss
Dahlias are beloved cottage flowers and cut flowers and provide impressive variety in petal structure, color and shape. However, larger dahlia varieties can require a great deal of space. If you don’t have the option of large beds and borders but still wish to grow dahlias, you will be wanting to try your hand at a few pot-friendly options. Fortunately there are some gorgeous compact and dwarf options that thrive in pots. Here are some of the best dahlias for pots, including pompon, anemone and single-petal varieties.
Create stunning floral container combos by growing dahlias with cosmos. You can buy ‘Sonata Mix’ cosmos seeds in the Gardening Know How Shop.
Choosing the Best Dahlias for Containers
If you’re hoping to grow dahlias in containers, the plant’s anticipated size at maturity should be your top priority. Though it is possible to grow tall dahlia varieties in pots, it is generally not advised. Still, a wide range of dwarf dahlias for pots are available. There’s plenty of choice in color, flower form and habit.
Decorative and ball types are amongst the best dahlias for pots. Take special note of each plant's hardiness, planning whether to grow tubers as annuals or perennials. You also need to give some thought to the type of container, making sure yours have good drainage holes. So, which dahlias are best for pots? Here are a few of the most vivid, long-flowering and adaptable for different container situations.
1. ‘Bishop of Llandaff’
Known for its stunning purple-black foliage, ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ dahlias are especially well suited to container culture. Brilliant red flowers open in large numbers, attracting hummingbirds as well as beneficial insects.
With routine dahlia deadheading, you can expect blooms from these stunning compact dahlias to bloom through summer and all the way to fall. You’ll find a range of red dahlias at Burpee, including red-petal ‘Cornel’ and ‘The Big Wow’ dahlias.
2. ‘Gallery’ Series
Bred specifically for use in pots and containers, you can find the ‘Gallery’ series of dahlias in a range of colors (the dahlia pictured here is ‘Art Nouveau’). Though compact in nature, you can expect an abundance of blooms that keep coming for months. These are some of the best dahlia plants for container gardening.
Large, semi-double flowers make for an especially attractive addition to porches, patios and other gathering spaces. You can buy ‘Leonardo’ in the Series at Walmart, along with other options. You’ll find some equally impressive dahlias at the Proven Winners website, including gorgeous salmon ‘Pinkerific’.
3. ‘Happy Days Mix’
The ‘Happy Days Mix’ is beloved for its vibrancy of color. Bright, single blooms are born atop tall stems. That said, mature plants remain compact, and you should be able to keep them flowering all through summer.
These container plants are especially attractive to pollinators and a wide range of beneficial insects. You’ll find some equally striking dahlia options at Amazon.com, including varieties you can start from seed or bulbs.
4. ‘Impression’ Series
The ‘Impression’ series of dahlias are collarette types, where the main petals of each flowerhead come with a smaller ring of shorter petals. These dahlias produce an abundance of pollen, beloved of pollinators. Dwarf plants work well in pots, serving as filler or focal flowers in mixed containers. There are a few other collarettes, plus anemone and pompon dahlias at Walmart.
5. ‘Karma Sangria’
‘Karma Sangria’ dahlias are treasured for their bright pink and yellow two-tone color and distinctive cactus form. Flowering continues through summer, ceasing only with the arrival of cooler temperatures.
This variety makes an excellent choice for container gardening, as well as the cut flower garden. You’ll find a few more striking cactus and semi-cactus dahlias at Burpee, including ‘Lisonette’ with its two-tone red and yellow effect.
6. ‘Melody Mambo’
Reaching only 22in (55cm) at maturity, ‘Melody Mambo’ is ideal for use in pots and containers. Those in search of highly saturated colorful plants are certain to be pleased by the variety's fiery red tones. The plant’s beauty is furthered only by its full double blooms, which are held high above foliage.
Consistent moisture throughout summer is key to the creation of lasting floral displays. If you love the hot colors of ‘Melody Mambo’, you will also love similarly hot tinted ‘Babylon Purple’ and ‘LeBella Maggiore’ dahlias at Burpee.
7. ‘Park Princess’
Favored among growers for its dwarf habit, ‘Park Princess’ is best when grown near porches and patios. Here, guests and passersby can appreciate this dahlia’s large, pink cactus-like blooms. Strong stems make this plant well-suited to a cut flower garden, as well as a gorgeous pink flower focal piece in pots and containers.
You can expect tubers to begin blooming quickly, continuing with vigor through summer. Aficionados of pink flowers will love some of the other pink dahlia options available at Walmart, including ‘Way of Life’ and ‘Happy Butterfly’.
8. ‘Totally Tangerine’
Popular amongst cutting enthusiasts, ‘Totally Tangerine’ remains one of the most sought-after dahlias for containers. This is largely due to its subtle pastel tones and unique anemone-like flower form.
This variety performs well in a container. You can look forward to sensational summer flowers in pots, provided the container can accommodate its robust root system. Lovers of orange, bronze and peach petals will find more interesting dahlia selections at Burpee.
9. ‘Waltzing Mathilda’
Like other semi-double types, ‘Waltzing Mathilda’ dahlias are certain to yield armloads of distinguished blooms through summer and early fall. Stems are held brightly above foliage, adding height and appeal to mixed containers.
Provided you carry out regular deadheading, you can expect consistent performance and bloom, ceasing only with the arrival of the first frost. There are plenty more vivid orange and peach dahlias at Walmart, which stocks a range of bulbs.
For more long flowering displays, add some zinnias to your potted dahlias. Buy Park Seed’s Zinnias for Cutting in the Gardening Know How Shop.
This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop. Keep in mind that our plant inventory is limited - so if you’re thinking of purchasing, don’t wait!
