The dahlia field is in full bloom right now, and we’re leaving many flowers on the plants so they can set seed pods. It’s the perfect backdrop to talk about this process.
Did you know you can grow dahlias from seed? 🌱
Most gardeners know dahlias as tubers, but here’s the key difference:
-
Seeds produce brand-new dahlias — every seedling is unique.
-
Tubers make exact clones of the parent plant.
That’s why seeds are so exciting: each one holds new genetics and the potential for something different. Breeders and hybridizers use this process to discover new dahlia varieties.
Step 1: Collecting seeds
At the end of the season, I let some dahlia blooms go to seed. Once pods have formed and start turning brown, I pull them off the plant and let them dry completely. When dry, the pods fall apart and reveal the seeds mixed in with chaff.
Step 2: Starting seedlings
In late winter, about 2 months before our last frost date, I start seeds indoors in trays. Once they sprout and grow about 3" tall, I transplant them outside after the danger of frost. This year I started 250 seedlings from last year’s harvest.
Step 3: Watching them bloom
Here’s the exciting part — when those seedlings bloom, no two look exactly the same. Some are singles, some doubles, some with unexpected colors and forms. If you grow any collarettes or open-centered dahlias in your garden then you’ll have more seedlings like that as that is the dominant trait.
(these 2 pictured above did not make the cut)
Step 4: Selecting the keepers
It’s tough choosing favorites and selecting seedlings that could become new varieties. It’s helpful having some sort of hybridizing goal in mind when you look at your flowers.
Only the best plants get flagged. I dig those up, store their tubers, and replant them the following year. Next year I will evaluate them again and check to make sure they are stable in their form and color. It takes about 3–4 seasons to confirm a new variety, but the payoff is worth it. Breeders use this process as part of hybridizing — by selecting seedlings that could become new varieties.
When I evaluate, I look for:
-
Petal count and even petal distribution
-
Color and overall form
-
Head attachment (does it hold up on a stem?)
-
Stem strength & vase life
-
Tuber production, and storage performance over winter
Why this matters for gardeners
Even if you’re not aiming to become a breeder, growing dahlias from seed is fun and rewarding. You’ll get one-of-a-kind flowers no one else has, and you’ll learn a lot about the plant along the way.
And here’s the best part → we’re saving dahlia seeds again this year so you can try it in your own garden too. 🌸
Sign up for our newsletter to get notified when our dahlia seeds are available