Informal Decorative Dahlia 'Hamari Gold'

This is a very large dahlia for me, 7-12 in across almost a dinner plate. I plant it next to my pergola so it got something to lean agai...Read Morenst for support. Very tall, chin high, color of lions mane--orange blend. I've been growing it for the last 3 yrs. Its only getting better each yr. It doesn't last as long as other dahlia in the vase because of its gigantic size. It last very long on the plant 2 weeks plus for each bloom. So I let it stay on the plant to enjoy the bloom. While other dahlia got chew up by earwigs and slugs this one they don't touch. It also doesn't mind the terrible soil I put it in.

These (three tubers) came as a bonus with an order of perennials from Holland Bulb Farm. Fortunately, I still had room to plant them (mo...Read Morest of my other dahlias were grown from seed). They did not need staking (at least not in my garden). We had lots of rain this year, and I had used polymer water-crystals so that not much additional watering was needed.

The flowers are about 4" across, without disbudding. The stems are thick making it easy to slit them under the flower head so as to allow the water to go up inside the stem; treated that way, they last four or five days (I do not change the water every day, but I put them in the fridge at night). The flower stems are not very long; you will need a vase that is not too tall but wide at the base to balance the bouquet.

I like these so much that I plan to dig up the tubers and save them for next year.

Note: They bloomed before the Japanese-beetle season was over. None of the Hamari Gold flowers were affected; the beetles prefer dark red flowers (e.g. the Hansa roses, red dahlias) and white or blush-colored flowers. Next year, if I want red dahlias I will plant them a little later, so they will bloom after I have drowned the last beetle.