Dahlia plants tend to exist only one season, and die back to the tuber at the end of the growing season (whether or not it is in the northern or southern climate). As such, the plant matures fully each growing season, and a brand new plant starts the next season.

Dahlias are different from tulip or daffodil bulbs, where the age of the bulb dictates the size/maturity of the next season's plant. Dahlia tubers provide the energy (starch from the tuber) and growing eyes to generate the start of a plant, that can then go on to grow independently of the tuber once the sprout attains feeder roots.