How to Grow and Care for Danique Dahlia

The Danique dahlia is prized by gardeners for its distinctive coloring and elegant form. Its manageable size and profuse blooming habit make it a versatile choice for garden beds, borders, and containers. The flowers begin their display in mid-summer and continue until the first frosts of autumn, providing months of visual interest.

Danique Dahlia Characteristics

As a decorative dahlia, ‘Danique’ produces blooms with complex coloration. The flowers reach about 14cm in size and feature a blend of deep, rusty orange-red tones, while the undersides of the petals reveal a deep plum-wine color. This coloring gives the blooms a mahogany-like appearance. The flowers are held on sturdy stems, making them suitable for cut flower arrangements.

The plant has an upright growth habit, reaching a height of 70cm to 110cm with a spread of about 45cm to 70cm. This moderate stature makes it a substantial presence in a mixed border without becoming unmanageable.

Planting and Growing Conditions

To get a head start, pot up dahlia tubers indoors four to six weeks before the last expected frost. Alternatively, plant them directly into the garden once all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed to around 60°F. Planting in soil that is too cold and wet can cause the tubers to rot before they sprout.

Select a location that receives at least six to eight hours of full sun daily. Dahlias thrive in rich, well-draining soil; amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost. Dig a hole approximately 30cm deep, loosening the soil and mixing in compost and an all-purpose granular fertilizer. Place the tuber 5cm to 10cm deep with the sprout pointing upwards, and space them 45cm apart for good air circulation.

After planting, water the tuber once and do not water again until the first green shoots appear. Once actively growing, the plant requires consistent moisture, especially during dry weather. A deep watering once or twice a week is sufficient, allowing the top inch of soil to dry between waterings.

Care Practices

To encourage a sturdy, bushy plant with more flowers, pinch the dahlia when it is about 30cm tall and has at least four sets of leaves. Pinching off the top of the main stem stimulates the plant to branch out from lower leaf nodes, resulting in more stems and blooms.

Since ‘Danique’ grows tall and its blooms are heavy, it requires support to prevent stems from breaking. Install a stake at planting time to avoid damaging the tuber system later. As the plant grows, loosely tie the main stem to the stake at various intervals.

Regular deadheading throughout the blooming season encourages continuous flower production. Remove spent flowers by cutting the stem back to the nearest set of leaves or a new bud. This directs the plant’s energy toward creating new blooms instead of producing seeds.

Overwintering Tubers

In climates with freezing winters, dahlia tubers must be dug up and stored. Begin the process after the first hard frost blackens the foliage, signaling the tuber to enter dormancy. Cut the stalks down to about 2 to 4 inches from the ground.

Carefully lift the tuber clump from the soil with a garden fork. Allow the clumps to air dry for a few days in a frost-free location out of direct sunlight, like a garage or shed. Once dry, gently brush off excess soil, leaving the clump intact with about 1 to 2 inches of stem.

For storage, place the dried tubers in a ventilated box or basket with a medium like peat moss, vermiculite, or wood shavings to prevent them from drying out. Store them in a cool, dark, and dry area with a stable temperature between 4.4°C and 10°C (40-50°F). The tubers can then be replanted the following spring.