Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’

Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’ is a true gem in the world of flowers, offering a blend of elegance, size, and color that is rarely matched. Its versatility in use and ease of growing make it a valuable addition to any garden or floral design. Whether for its aesthetic appeal, its award-winning potential, or simply for the joy it brings to gardens and arrangements, ‘Vassio Meggos’ stands out as a top choice among dahlias. This dahlia is featured in our top 40 must-see dahlia flowers.

Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’: An In-depth Look

Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’ is a striking decorative dahlia celebrated for its large, ruffled blooms with a blend of lilac shades. This dahlia type is characterized by its fully double flowers, lacking a central disc, and featuring broad, flat or slightly rolled petals arranged in a regular, symmetrical pattern. Dahlia ‘Vassio Meggos’ is also classified as a dinnerplate dahlia due to its impressively large flowers.

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 robustness and vigorous growth, producing strong, upright stems ideal for cutting.

Size: It generally reaches about 36-48 inches in height (90-120 cm) and spreads around 18-24 inches (30-60 cm), depending on growing conditions.

Flowers: The flowers of ‘Vassio Meggos’ are its most stunning feature. They are large, often reaching 8-9 inches (20-26 cm) in diameter. The petals are a soft blend of avender-pink, creating a lush, ruffled appearance that is both elegant and eye-catching. The blooms have a full, luxurious look, making them a favorite for floral displays.

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

Foliage: The foliage is typical of dahlias, with dark green leaves that provide a lush backdrop for the bright flowers.

Uses: ‘Vassio Meggos’ is highly versatile and can be used in various settings. Its stunning blooms make it a favorite for wedding bouquets and floral arrangements. In the garden, it serves as an excellent focal point in borders or as part of a mixed bed. The plant’s height and striking flowers also make it an ideal choice for background plantings or as a stand-alone specimen in large containers.

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.