Dahlia × hortensis
Dahlia (Dahlia × hortensis) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -12 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €8. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.
It does not overwinter outdoors here: the tubers must be lifted after the first frost and stored frost-free. It flowers from midsummer until the frosts and is an excellent cut flower; cultivars range from 30 cm bedding types to 1.5 m dinner-plate giants, so check the mature height and flower form when choosing (single-flowered ones feed pollinators, tall ones need staking). Plant the tubers once spring frosts are over, around mid May, in a sunny spot with rich, well-drained soil and water regularly in summer. When the first frost has blackened the foliage, cut the stems back to 10 to 15 cm, lift the tubers, let them dry, then keep them in dry sand, peat or sawdust at 4 to 7 °C in a frost-free place and replant in spring.
| Group | Perennial |
| Light | Full sun, Part shade |
| Size after 10 years | 1 m × 60 cm |
| Ultimate size | 0.3–1.8 m × 30–90 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -12 °C (USDA 8, RHS H5) |
| Soil | Average garden soil |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Flowering | July–October, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Low |
| Maintenance | High |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | Low |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 50 cm |
| For dogs | Toxic |
| For cats | Toxic |
| For children | Mildly toxic (uncertain) |
| Typical price | from about €8 |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
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The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.
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Size
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Typical price
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| size not stated | approx. €8 |
Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made
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