Mini Dahlia X Hortensis Lubega® is the latest addition to my plants acquired due to aggressive marketing. As readers will know I like to test new plants but do not what too much marketing.
In the garden centre it was on a tray marked £1.50 but was really £2.99 when I got to check out. This is another serious whinge of mine, duff pricing and or naff quality at garden centres.

Small Plan for Mini Dahlia

Despite my reservations I couldn’t resist this ‘mini dahlia’ in yellow and orange. It had over a dozen visible buds of which 5 showed the beginnings of colour. (One other similar plant had fully open flowers that showed a semi double effect).
My plan is to see how many flowers one plant will produce in one summer (assuming we get a summer).
It was in a 4″ pot and I have repotted into a 7″ pot. The recommended distance apart is 10″ which small for a dahlia that generally like their own space.
Current height is 6″ that suits me and the mini stature but I am worried as the label says in will grow to 16″ which is more than mini in my book. I must wait and see and will report back.
Report back after 10 weeks – bitter disappointment at poor volume of flowers. Plant leaved up but remained 12″ high but negligible new buds. Will September redeem the plant? I have my doubts!

Mini Dahlia Growing Instructions

• Mini Dahlias are a half hardy perennial that is grown as a half hardy annual.
• Garden centres are told ‘High light intensity and day lengths from 13 to 15 hours will promote an advanced florescence and a good plant structure’.
• The label tells gardeners position in fertile, moist, well drained soil in sun or partial shade. (Oh that is so unusual).
• Water well in dry weather and feed weekly when in flower.
• Mini Dahlia Yellow Bicolour should ‘produce an abundance of delightful, brightly coloured blooms throughout summer.’
  Ideal for patio containers and borders.

Definition of Mini Dahlia

• A Mini dahlia is a low growing dahlia normally between 10 and 18 inches tall.
• Flowers dictate the definition ‘mini’ ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches in diameter.
• Dahlias with flowers larger than 4 inches are no longer considered minis.

5 months Later

What about the Growers of Mini Dahlias

This is a German product by trade supplier Volmary GmbH Munster
Mini Dahlia X Hortensis Lubega® is one of a series or range of varieties that includes:
Dahliettaâ„¢
Dahliettaâ„¢ Surprise
Figaro Mix
Gallery®
Happy Day
Lubega®
Lubega® Mini with a Compact and well-branched habit of the mulitflora type
Lubega® Power
Melody
Mr Fothergill sells seeds of Dahlia Dwarf Double Mixed (Dahlia x hortensis)

Some Other Dahlia Species

Dahlia coccinea, Dahlia variabilis
Dahlia imperialis, Dahlia laciniata
Dahlia rosea’ Dahlia x hortensis

• Dahlia seeds at Thompson & Morgan