Since then, there have been several rises and falls in dahlia popularity. It may just be time for another spurt in popularity. The fleshy dahlia tubers are not reliably hardy in most of Arkansas and must be lifted each winter and stored where they will not freeze. Dahlias may also be grown from seed and are often sold as spring bedding plants. If the tubers of these seedlings are saved, they will be much taller the second year.
Dahlias prefer fertile, well-watered garden sites in full sun.
They will have scattered blooms all summer long but their peak blooming period is really the cooler days of fall. Dahlias typically are big plants, often ranging from 3 to 5 feet tall. Flowers are available in a wide array of pastel shades and may be small single affairs three inches across to giants with blooms the size of a dinner plate. The stems of these big plants tend to be brittle so some early season staking or caging may help keep plants upright once the monstrous blooms begin appearing. They make excellent cut flowers.