I grew Happy Single Date, an anemone single type, last year. It was around 3 ft tall and didn’t require staking. Itwasnot as floriferous as some pictures I’ve seen online. Also the flowers, while lovely, are not as showy as some dahlias.

I e wondered if I could use a simple tomato cage around some of the larger dahlias, but I’ve not tried yet.

This year all my tubers got mixed up so I don’t know which ones arewhich. I also lost a lot of them.

Seems like when I've been to commercial dahlia operations such as this one near you (which I haven't seen in person)

http://www.ferncliffgardens.com/Showgarden.php

they aren't always all staked. But I've never thought to check each time.

Ah, for many dahlia growers, it really is all about spectacular blooms (especially if exhibiting is in the air)...but the simpler single species (coccinea, merckii) can have both height and sturdiness...but with most other dahlias, it does tend to be a bit of a trade-off between height, size and shape of blooms and sturdiness. The collarettes, some of which can stretch to 4feet) are handy, as they are not the bushiest of plants and benefit from a close relationship with other perennials.My eldest grows them in a (hardy) tropical border, relying on aroids, ricinus, begonias to provide a supporting structure and encouraging the blooms assert themselves in a community rather than specimen diva status.

I grow them inside a tomato cage. The Dahlia foliage quickly hides the tomato cage so you don't even know it is there.