A wide band of pinks
Pink is one of the easiest dahlia colours to find, from pale blush through coral-pink to strong magenta. Dahlia flowers are really composite heads: each petal is a ray floret, which is why pink shades can shift between the centre and the tips of the same bloom.
Where pink earns its place
Pink dahlias suit cottage-style beds, wedding colour schemes and mixed vases alongside greenery. Their season of December to April matches the main southern wedding months, so they are a natural fit.
- Soft pink pairs well with white, grey-green foliage and blue.
- Deep pink and magenta stand up to hot orange or yellow companions.
- Pastel shades look best in morning sun, since strong afternoon heat bleaches them.
Regional notes
Melbourne, Hobart, Canberra and the cooler highlands give the longest flowering. In Perth and Adelaide, mulch thickly and water deeply during heatwaves. In Brisbane and Sydney, choose airy spots and avoid wetting foliage to limit mildew. Darwin and Cairns are tough going because of heat and humidity.
The basics of tuber care
Start tubers in spring when frost has finished, then pinch out the shoot tip for a bushier plant. Cut flowers once they are fully open, since dahlias will not open further in the vase. A cut stem lasts around five to eight days in clean water.
Pets near the pink border
Pets are best kept from chewing dahlias. The ASPCA records mild stomach upset and mild dermatitis in dogs, cats and horses that have eaten them. Phone a vet if one has been chewed.
