Gardens & Collections

Staff’s Favorite Plant of the Month:
August

Plant: Dahlia (Dahlia sp.)
Staff member: Katherine Speicher, Botanical Gardens Manager
Location: Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus

Dahlias (Dahlia sp.), a popular cut flower, are native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. They can be found in nearly every color along with various flower forms and sizes. In Ohio, dahlias typically begin blooming in mid-summer and continue flowering through the fall. Although dahlias are not cold hardy, the tubers can be dug in late fall and stored over the winter before being replanted in the garden after the last spring frost. Dahlias can be propagated by seed, tuber divisions, or cuttings. However, to produce dahlias that are true to type, they must be propagated through tuber divisions or cuttings. Dahlias grown from seed produce genetically unique plants, resulting in flowers that differ in color, form, and other traits.