My experience with dahlias has been that they do well the first year, the second year, not so well & by the third year they are gone. It is not necessary to dig them up, but if you are thinking of growing the dinner plate size dahlias here in Florida, FORGET IT!

Dahlias do not tolerate high summer temperatures . Plus , Dahlias are susceptible to many , many pests and diseases found in Florida - much more so than Florida natives .
You will easily find many other great plants to grow in Florida that are carefree and beautiful . What area of Florida are you considering calling home ?

I grew them for the first time this year and they were gorgeous. A few more buds are ready to open. I bought them -- on sale, of course, at Wal-Mart - when the $5.00 box of tubers was reduced to $1.50. Well worth it. I'll see if they come up next year. The gladiolis I planted last year came up again. That was a surprise.

My next door neighbor in Austin used to grow beautiful dahlias. Austin is hotter and much dryer than central florida, and a little colder in the winter. Maybe you have to get southern dahlias. But as gator said, there are lots of other things to get hooked on.

With enough wind movement (to keep fungus away) and a higher placement, so the roots don't rot, partial sun in the hot afternoon, and judicious watering on roots only, you may get them to hang on for up to five years, but you will need to fertilize carefully with compost (nutrients filter through the sand here) and baby them...tubers from Texas might work...too much work for me...lots of others to choose from. Lots of Master Gardener plant sales where you can get things that ARE growing here.

Hi, I purchased a few pink ones from Lowes last year looking for something perrenial that I didn't have to replant each year. I took good care of them and they lasted maybe a month or so before they turned brown and mushy and no longer produced flowers. They were so bad that I had to take them out. (I planted them late spring/early summer)

That is my only experience with dahlias and a bad one! I was thinking about those flowers just recently and noticed that I have never seen one planted in someone's yard or anywhere in this town. They were so beautiful when I planted them, I really wanted them to work out but they didn't. And we live in the "cooler" part of the state too, so I don't know.

It is some serious zone denial to try and grow Dahlias in Florida. Not to say you can't do it, but it probably won't be worth your effort. These are in the same category as tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.

There are a lot of great plants that do well in Florida and if you like bulbs and tubers, try amaryllis/hippeastrum and canna lilies once you are here.

I wouldn't call it denial, Love tehe Yard, since we have so many zones state wide. As I say, I know of a man who grew huge, tall, beautiful dahlias for years in the Clearwater area. I've grown them successfully for up to 2 or 3 years (before moving) in the Orlando area. Not necessarily the easiest thing in this zone, but by no means impossible. Especially in a container garden.

And tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often grown in the Tallahassee area, so again, the part of the state you are in plays a big role. North Florida shouldn't present too much of a problem. Central Florida is an "iffy" maybe. South Florida, probably not going to happen.

Since we don't know what part of the state Digsdahlias is moving to, it seems only fair to give her all the possibilities.

Marcia

Hehehe... we have a lot of zones but ain't none of them Zone 6. Florida's lowest (coolest) zone is 8a. As I said, it isn't impossible. It's just not worth it.

There are many other wonderful bulbs and tubers that are perfectly suited to Florida's various climates.

{{gwi:882081}}

Nope, no Zone 6, but if you Google Dahlias for Zone 8, you will find LOTS of them listed. And some for Zone 9. Again, they may require extra mulch or water, but since Digsdahlias just wanted to know if she COULD grow them, I think it's fair to say yes, in some parts of the state. Since I've done it and know others who have, I didn't want to discourage her from trying.

Do I think other things are easier and more worth the effort, yes. But I don't have a special love for dahlias over other flowers, either.

The link below is just one of many that list particular dahlias that are designed to take heat AND humidity. These are probably NOT the ones you find at Home Depot every spring, btw. But they are specific varieties you can order if you want to give them a try in Zones 8 or 9.

Marcia

Here is a link that might be useful: Dahlias for Heat & Humidity

Can Dahlias Be Grown as Perennials? ... Tender dahlia plants are actually tropical plants and they are perennial only if you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher. If your hardiness zone is 7 or below, you have a choice: either grow dahlias as annuals or dig the tubers and store them until spring.

Can Dahlias Be Grown as Perennials? ... Tender dahlia plants are actually tropical plants and they are perennial only if you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or higher. If your hardiness zone is 7 or below, you have a choice: either grow dahlias as annuals or dig the tubers and store them until spring.

Stephanie , I have been searching for the answer and you actually hits the bullseye. If Dahlias are perennial in warmer zones than growing them in warmer zones shouldn't be a problem. Right ? I was Googling about it and it is always about for colder zones and how to winterize it. Nothing about warmer zones. Maybe the new varieties is introduce for colder zones but still I want older varieties to grow in FL.

Just saying my 2 cents aloud 🌸🌺😊

Nope Dahlias dont grow here in Florida..shhh

This Dahlis dont grow..dont tell her.

These don't grow..

This one either..

or this one

sultry-jasmine_nights_fl9 What‘s your technique for growing them?

I usually start them in pots with potting soil. Once they are a foot tall I plant them in the ground. I dont know if thats how it "should" be done but I have a lot of critters here who like to dig up newlt sprouting bulbs/corms/tubers etc. If your soil is sandy, a bamboo stake will help keep them from falling over.

I have started digging mine up before frost even though they are hardy here because when they resprout the next spring, the possums, armadillos (or whatever critter) will dig them up again lol.

Mine are coming up from last