Amy Draiss
Dahlias are tuberous perennials native to Mexico and Central America, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Prized in the garden for their varied blooms, they can create dazzling displays that quickly fill out beds and borders. However, if you have limited space or want to grow dahlias in containers, you do have options.
There are plenty of dwarf dahlias that can rise to the occasion while maintaining a compact form. These small dahlias only grow to two feet (60cm) in height, and they are commonly 12-18 inches (30-45cm). Here are a few of the most exquisite for gorgeous long flowering summer blooming plants even in small spaces.
Choosing the Best Compact Dahlia Varieties
Many dahlias are tall, growing up to six feet (1.8m), and are not appropriate for containers. These short dahlias are ideal for a small dahlia garden, compact backyard, balcony space or full sun container garden.
These smaller dahlia varieties should come back next year if you properly dig up and store the tuberous roots. Let the roots cure in the soil for the best results. This means not digging them up until about two weeks after the first frost. Wrap the roots in newspaper and store in a box with sawdust, sand or vermiculite in a cool, dry area. Plant next spring for another summer of blooms.
1. ‘Sunshine’
This is a single dahlia variety that comes in a striking double-color combination of deep yellow with orange at the base of each petal. When grown in a container garden, it’s truly sunshine in a pot.
If you can keep these dahlias flowering, they can last for up to four weeks each, and they also attract pollinators. 'Sunshine' dahlias grow as tall as two feet (60cm). If you like yellow single dahlias, then ‘Happy Single’ from Walmart is also a great option for containers.
2. ‘Stacy Rachelle’
‘Stacy Rachelle’ came onto the scene in 1993 as a new cultivar that only grows to about eight inches (20cm) tall. This makes it an ideal plant for container gardening. The flowers are ball type, meaning they have many tightly packed petals forming a rounded shape.
Flowers are a pretty pinkish-purple and sit on top of especially sturdy and straight stems. If you like ball dahlias, pinky purple ‘Lilac Time’ from Touch of Eco is available to buy in bulb form from Walmart.
3. ‘Scura’
This is an all-around dwarf, with a short height (one foot or 30cm) and a small flower (one inch or 2.5cm across). The blooms are a deep shade of orange with an orange center. They are considered single dahlias for their single row of petals.
‘Scura’ is a simple but very elegant flower and one of the most colorful plants you can grow in a smaller garden or pot. If you like orange single dahlias, then ‘Topmix Salmon’ dahlia from Holland Bulb Farms, available from Walmart, is also a great dwarf for containers and small gardens.
4. ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’
This is a really special variety of dahlia and perfect for containers, because it is short and has a bushy growth habit. It will only get as tall as two feet and will fill out a container nicely. Deadhead frequently to extend the flowering season. The flowers are the collarette type, meaning they have an outer ring of petals surrounded by an inner ring of smaller petals.
The outer petals are deep pink with white streaks and the inner petals are solid white, while the center is yellow. If you like collarettes and want to grow a dwarf variety, you can also get ‘Impression Festivo’ dahlias from Hirt’s Gardens, available from Walmart, with red and yellow tones.
5. ‘Pianella’
‘Pianella’ grows between 18 and 24 inches (45 and 60cm) and is a cactus-type of dahlia. Cactus dahlias have tubular petals, which give each flower head a distinctively spiky appearance. ‘Pianella’ petals are reddish-pink with white edging on the tips.
If you like cactus dahlia varieties, ‘Tahiti Sunrise’ from Hirt’s Gardens, available at Walmart, only grows to 20 inches tall, and makes a lovely option for a small cut flower garden.
6. ’Happy Days’
‘Happy Days’ dahlias make sensational summer flowers for pots. This is actually a series of compact dahlias that come in several colors: pink, yellow, purple, red, lemon yellow and red combined with orange.
These dahlias also have unique, nearly black foliage. This deep, rich leaf tone sets off the bright colors of the blooms, which are single-petalled. ‘Happy Days’ dahlias grow to 20 inches (50cm) tall.
7. ‘Omo’
If you’re looking for a short, pure white dahlia, you can’t go wrong with ‘Omo,’ which will only grow to 16 inches (40cm) tall. The petals are single and bright white, and surround a yellow center.
If you like white dahlias, you can also try ‘Dalina Grande Lopez’ from Proven Winners, which is another good option for containers, reaching 18 inches (30cm) tall.
