Virtuoso^® Vibrant Violet^™ Dahlia variabilis

I’m growing this Dahlia for the first time in my California zone 9B garden. They are absolutely stunning and this is a plant that I will definitely repeat. I knew I would like it when I saw Laura from garden Answer show them in her garden, but I really can’t believe how much I love this plant! So far our summer has been pretty mild. It’s mid June and we’ve only hit triple digits once so I can’t say how they’ll do when we hit 105 which is typical for us. But so far in the 95° range, they’re doing absolutely terrific! They have filled in just beautifully they’ve gotten about a little bit taller than they are wider with a really beautiful mounded shape completely covered in blooms from side to side and top to bottom! In one part of my garden, I have them in a row in the back of a low raised planter. In another part of my garden, I popped a single plant in amongst other flowers/plants. In both cases they are equally stunning and growing well and look super healthy and beautiful. I have them next to soft pinks, deep purple and silver plants/flowers and it just brings a pop to the garden which is so so pretty. The color is such a vibrant, fuchsia pink/violet color that I can see them from across the yard and they just bring a beautiful color to my garden that you can see and admire no matter where you are in the garden. Even when the sun hasn’t come up yet, and they are in the shade that color is noticeable! I do have them in a mixed transitional sun part of my garden. The ones that get more sun are bigger in general. But the blooming on all of them is about equal. And when I say that, I mean it’s blooming a lot! I do feed them with the Ruben winners water soluble fertilizer on a weekly basis and have them on drip so they get regular consistent water. It is recommended that you deadhead them so I do try to go out once a week but honestly, I haven’t found myself needing to really do all that much. It’s maybe pick one or two off. The bloom seemed to last a really long time. I don’t know if you would say they bury their dead necessarily, but certainly the bush is so …well… Bushy