I have been trying to grow Cactus Dahlias for years. I thought I could grow them in the ground, in amended soil. I planted tubers and thought “I will have flowers in eight weeks” Ha. This was four or five years ago. The tubers would sprout, put out a few leaves, and then die back down. A couple of times a year this happened until finally a passing critter dug them up and ate them. They hung around the garden for a few years, I kept hoping for flowers, but never got so much as a bud.
This spring I ordered some Labyrinth Cactus Dahlia tubers. I was shipped single red Dahlias and these replacement tubers are supposed to be Labyrinth. I was expecting long stemmed peach and pink mixed flowers…that is not this. This is the shortest stemmed flower I have ever cut. Maybe and inch and a half of stem and I accidentally clipped a bud while trying to cut the flower. These are pretty whatever they are, Cactus Dahlias, but not Labyrinth. Oh, well. I am still thrilled with the flower. All the stems are seemingly very short so my dreams of an overflowing bowl of Dahlias are dashed…
I am growing these in plastic pots. The tubers were planted about two months ago, so the original thought of having Dahlias in eight weeks is about right. The red singles I planted in March have burned out and gone dormant (or perished in the heat?)
A close up:
In pale purple, the Dahlia and bud. Green Envy Zinnias are hanging over the side. The foliage is Asparagus Fern and Sweet Begonia leaves. The vase is a thrift store find.
From above:
Thanks to Cathy at http://www.ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com for hosting; follow the link to see more vases from around the world.
Happy Gardening!!
The Shrub Queen 
Clever opposing textures in your foliage choices, they frame the dahlia beautifully. Labyrinth or not, it certainly is a nice one.
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Thanks Susie..made me realize how many Dahlias you must grow to fill your compote vases. Leaf textures are a favorite element for me.
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Whatever her name, she sure is a beauty and a worthy centrepiece to your pretty arrangement this week 🙂
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Thanks..ID provided by a friend.. purple gem??
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It sure is pretty. I give up much quicker.
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My Dahlia quest..goes on.
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Good grief -that is a short stem, but it works well in the vase along with the greenery and zinnias. It has been really interesting sharing your dahlia journey – which will continue, I know! Your supplier doesn’t seem very reliable though…
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Yes, really short stem..a balancing act. The supplier is having a huge sale right now it’s very tempting.
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Go for it girl!!
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A charming arrangement and I do like the ‘turned down’ element.
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Thanks Noelle..the zinnias turned up towards the light.
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No, it’s definitely not ‘Labyrinth’. It’s very pretty, though. The exceptionally short stem is odd. I’ve had a difficult time with my dahlia tubers this year too, although nothing like your experience. It took a lot longer than 4 weeks for my tubers to sprout – the soil may have been too cool when I planted mine in temporary pots back in March – and each additional stage from sprout to bud to bloom always takes a miserably long time too..
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Interesting what I am reading about other Dahlia experiences
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It’s a beauty, whatever its name is! No one can accuse you of giving up, you’ve worked long and hard getting to this point!
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Thanks…I want More 😁
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You’ve caught the dahlia-crazy bug! Welcome to the club. 😉
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LOL yes and I am in good company!
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Maybe not what you expected, but lovely all the same. It’s a beautiful arrangement. The green textures work brilliantly with the dahlia.
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Thank you, I agree. This one was a nice surprise.
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It’s lovely! And the vase is ideal, showing it off really well. the short stems are annoying though. Maybe you should order from a different company? 😉 If it’s any consolation, I can’t grow dahlias at all. I have one in a pot that has not grown an inch for about three weeks and there are no buds… 🤪
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Thank you, Cathy. I think you are right…about the bulb people. I wonder if the short stems are due to the heat or lack of fertilizer…So weird about your Dahlias. It would seem you should be able to grow them.. Famous last words from a gardener.
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Oh, that is GORGEOUS! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you.
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‘THE’ dahlia!
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Name names Queen. Who sent you the wrong plants?
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Holland bulb farm, I guess two wrongs is pretty bad.
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Easy to Grow corrects their mistakes
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I’ll look them up
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