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Our Annuals bring long lasting seasonal color to any yard or container. From the common to the unique and unusual, Swansons provides the largest and most diverse selection of annuals in the area. The weather is warm, the skies are blue and the flowers at Swanson’s are in full bloom! You’ll find great inspiration for fun plant combinations in our greenhouses and courtyards. |
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Dahlias (seasonal)Some Northwest gardeners think that summer doesn’t really begin until the dahlias start to flower. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the dahlia was the second most popular flower in the U.S. after the rose. The popularity of the Dahlia is coming back as a result of the vastly improved quality of individual flowers and the larger number of sizes, colors and forms. Here at Swansons, we have a gorgeous selection of these long flowering beauties for you to choose from. Dahlias are classified into nine different categories based on the flower shape and the petal arrangement: Formal and Informal Decorative, Cactus, Semi-Cactus, Collarette, Single, Ball, Pompom and Anemone. |
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Care: Dahlias perform best when planted in full sun with nutrient rich soil and regular watering. One tip about watering a dahlia is to water only at the soil level, taking care not to get the leaves wet. This will help prevent powdery mildew from occurring. Tall growing dahlias can be staked to support the long stems and flowers. Another secret that successful dahlia growers use is called “disbudding.” This is done to increase the flower size by removing the lateral flower buds, ideally in the early morning or evening. When the three buds that form at the end of each branch reach about the size of a small pea, remove the two side buds. Additionally, spent flowers should be deadheaded to encourage additional blooming.
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It
has been estimated that there are over 40,000 named Dahlia
varieties, a testament to the development efforts for this
remarkable flower over the years.
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