Dahlia ‘My Love’

Dahlia ‘My Love’ is an exceptional dahlia variety, offering a delightful combination of elegant white blooms, robust growth, and a spiky yet graceful form. Its adaptability and stunning appearance make it a prized choice for gardeners and floral designers alike. Whether used to enhance the beauty of a garden, as a standout in floral arrangements, or as part of a competitive display, ‘My Love’ continues to impress with its purity, form, and horticultural charm.

Dahlia ‘My Love’: An In-depth Look

Dahlia ‘My Love’ is a captivating semi-cactus dahlia renowned for its elegant and distinctive flowers. This type is characterized by long, pointed petals that roll back towards the stem, giving the flower a spiky yet graceful appearance. ‘My Love’ stands out with its pure white petals, offering a classic and refined look.

Native: Dahlias are native to Mexico and Central America. This cultivar results from extensive breeding and does not occur naturally in the wild.

Plant Type and Habit: This dahlia is a tuberous-rooted perennial with a bushy, upright growth habit. This variety is known for its strong stems and consistent growth, making it a reliable choice for gardeners.

Size: It generally reaches about 48 inches in height (120 cm) and spreads around 18-24 inches (30-60 cm), depending on growing conditions.

Flowers: The flowers of ‘My Love’ are notable for their pristine white color. They are medium to large in size, usually measuring around 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. The long, slender petals curl gracefully at the tips, creating a striking semi-cactus form that adds an element of sophistication to the bloom. They radiate out from a greenish-yellow heart.

Bloom Time: Blooming from mid-summer until the first frost it provides long-lasting color in the garden.

Foliage: The foliage is a lush green, providing a fresh and vibrant backdrop for its colorful blooms. The leaves are compound and arranged symmetrically along the stems, contributing to the plant’s overall healthy and full appearance.

Uses: ‘My Love’ is highly versatile, making it a superb choice for cutting gardens and stunning in floral arrangements. Its pure white blooms and robust growth make it a spectacular focal point in garden borders and mixed beds. Additionally, the striking contrast between its blooms and the green foliage makes it an ideal candidate for container gardening.

Hardiness: Dahlias are hardy in USDA zones 8-11. In colder zones, tubers need to be lifted and stored over winter.

Toxicity: Dahlias are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Their ingestion can lead to gastrointestinal upset and other health issues in pets and livestock.

Wildlife: The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Deer and Rabbit: Dahlias are somewhat resistant to deer and rabbits but may still be vulnerable to browsing.

Invasiveness: Not invasive; dahlias grow from tubers and do not spread aggressively.

Dahlia Growing Tips

Light: Dahlias love the sun, so choose a location with at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily.

Soil: Dahlias prefer well-drained, loamy soil. They don’t tolerate water-logged conditions, so if your soil is heavy clay, consider amending it with compost or peat moss to improve drainage.

Planting Time: Dahlias are usually planted in the spring after the risk of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.

Planting Depth: Dahlia tubers should be planted about 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) deep, with the “eye” (the small bump from where the stem will grow) facing upward.

Watering: Dahlias like consistent moisture. Water them deeply a couple of times a week, more often if your area is experiencing a drought. Avoid overhead watering to reduce the risk of fungal diseases.

Fertilizing: Dahlias respond well to low-nitrogen fertilizers, such as a 5-10-10 or 10-20-20. Too much nitrogen can lead to lush, leafy growth and fewer flowers.

Deadheading: Regularly removing the spent flowers (deadheading) will keep your dahlias producing more blooms.

Overwintering: In colder climates (zones 7 and below), you’ll need to dig up and store the tubers indoors over the winter.

Pests and Diseases: Dahlias are generally relatively disease and pest-resistant, but there are a few common issues to watch out such as aphids, botrytis blight, earwigs, powdery mildew, slugs and snails, spider mites, and thrips.