Flowers in SeasonSeptember · Spring

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Seasonal cut flowerDahlia pinnata hybrids

Dahlias: when they're in season in Australia

Dahlias are in season in Australia from January to May.Being confirmed

Right now
Out of season in September
Season
January to May
Vase life
3 to 8 days
Decorative dahlia with coral pink petals fading to a butter yellow centre, set against dark green leaves
Photo: Lestat (Jan Mehlich), CC BY-SA 3.0, source

At market, month by month

Being confirmed
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VICIn seasonIn seasonIn seasonIn seasonIn seasonNot in seasonNot in seasonNot in seasonNot in seasonNot in seasonNot in seasonNot in season

Drafted from Australian grower, wholesaler and market sources, and being checked with our founding florist. Seasons shift a couple of weeks with the weather.

Dahlias are a late summer and autumn flower in Australia, at market from about January to May, with the fullest supply in February and March. They are field-grown, so heat, rain and early frost all shorten the run. Victoria has a strong grower base around Geelong, Gippsland and the Yarra Valley, and small farms in South Australia, NSW and south-east Queensland also sell direct and run pick-your-own days. Café au Lait, a creamy blush dinner-plate type, is the one everyone asks for.

Where to buy dahlias

Priced by the stem or small bunch. Large dinner-plate types cost more, and prices rise late in the season as supply thins. Being confirmed

How to choose good dahlias

Look straight into the flower. On most types the centre should be tight and closed, with no yellow disc of pollen showing, because an open centre means the bloom is near the end. The neck just below the head should be firm and straight, especially on heavy dinner-plate types, which can snap or droop. Leaves should be dark green and upright, not blackened or limp. Petals mark easily, so check for bruising where heads have rubbed together. Three to five big blooms, or a bunch of pompons, fill a vase. February and March, when fields are in full flush, give the widest choice.

Founding florist

Tulipanna

Bondi NSW · est. 1992

A Bondi Road florist since 1992, with seasonal bouquets, arrangements, roses and potted orchids, and a weekly note on what's at market.

Visit Tulipanna →(02) 9387 3991

Grown here or imported?

Dahlias are not native to Australia, but they're grown here commercially.

Where they're grown

Dahlias are grown in the open field from tubers planted in spring once the soil warms, and picked from summer until the first frosts. Being confirmed Commercial supply comes mostly from small and mid-sized flower farms rather than big glasshouse operations. The blooms bruise easily and travel poorly, so most dahlias are sold close to where they are grown, through markets, florists, subscriptions and the farm gate. Many of these farms grow dozens of varieties in rotation. In home gardens, tubers are either lifted and stored over winter or left in the ground where frost and drainage allow.

Stems at Australian markets are mostly grown here, so when they are out of season they are hard to find. Being confirmed

Months at market

Colours, varieties and care

Colours

  • blush
  • peach
  • burgundy
  • magenta
  • red
  • orange
  • white
  • bi-colour

Varieties to ask for

  • Café au Lait
  • Dinner plate
  • Pompon
  • Ball

Vase life

3 to 8 days Being confirmed

Making them last

  1. Buy blooms more than halfway open, as dahlias do not open much after cutting
  2. Avoid stems with browning, wilting or dropping back petals
  3. Recut stems and stand in a few centimetres of warm water
  4. Change the water daily, as dahlia stems cloud it quickly
  5. Keep them out of heat and handle gently, as petals mark easily

Using them at home

Late summer and autumn put dahlias alongside lisianthus, sunflowers, tuberose, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums. Café au Lait with blush lisianthus is a soft pairing, while burgundy ball dahlias with late hydrangeas give a darker autumn look. Big blooms need a wide, heavy vase with a narrower opening so the heads can rest on the rim. Pompons suit bud vases and small jars grouped along a table. Over the vase life the colour softens a little, then the outer petals drop, so remove each bloom as it goes.

Meaning

Traditionally associated with commitment and dignity.

Where to see them growing

Flower farmVICPick your own

Pure Maiden Farm

Maiden Gully

Open: September to MayBeing confirmed

Flower farmNSWPick your own

Cedar Creek Farm

Cedar Creek (Wollombi Valley)

Open: September to MayBeing confirmed

Questions people ask

When are dahlias in season in Australia?

Dahlias are at Australian markets from about January to May, peaking in February and March. They are grown outdoors, so a hot summer, heavy rain or an early autumn frost can cut the season short. One wholesaler guide lists September to November, but growers and florists consistently point to late summer and autumn.

Can I pick my own dahlias?

Yes. Several small flower farms open for pick-your-own sessions in dahlia season, including farms in Victoria, the Barossa in South Australia and south-east Queensland. Sessions usually need booking and run on set weekend dates.

How long do cut dahlias last?

Around three to eight days. They are thirsty and cloud the water quickly, so change it daily. Dahlias do not open further after picking, so buy them close to how open you want them.

Are dahlias poisonous to cats?

The ASPCA lists dahlias as mildly toxic to cats, dogs and horses. Eating the leaves or flowers can cause a mild upset stomach, and handling the plant can irritate skin. It is not usually serious, but keep vases out of reach of curious pets and check with your vet if symptoms appear.

Why are dahlias so expensive?

They are grown outdoors, picked by hand at just the right stage and bruise easily, so they cannot be shipped long distances or stored for weeks like roses. Each plant gives a limited number of good stems, and large dinner-plate types give fewer. Bad weather in the season can also wipe out a week's picking.

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Where this season information comes from