Dahlia tubers are the underground storage organs of the dahlia plant, responsible for storing nutrients and enabling the plant to regenerate each year. These tubers resemble swollen, fleshy roots and come in various shapes and sizes, depending on the dahlia variety.

Before shipping, we inspect each tuber several times, checking for three key parts: the eye, neck, and body. The eye is located on the crown and it is small but crucial since it’s where new growth starts. We want a strong neck and a firm body—like a fresh potato, not one that's been forgotten in the back of a drawer!

Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Tubers don't want to be too wet or too dry. They want a nice balance of the two. They also like to be a cool dark place.

Dahlia tubers should be solid, like potatoes, with a dry, smooth surface. If there is slight wrinkling, it is getting dry and need light moisture but not water. If it sits in water, it will rot. When they grow and bloom, you will be amazed it came all from that tuber.

ALL DIFFERENT! Just as dahlias come in a wide variety of bloom shapes, colors, and sizes, their tubers also vary. If you're new to growing dahlias, don’t be surprised if two tubers look completely different—both can be perfectly healthy despite their differences.

One could be thin like a pencil and the next one looks almost like a potato. I have some dahlias that create 3" tubers and another that creates 9" tubers.

We ship our tubers in a paper bag with lightly moistened vermiculite to keep them breathable but not too dry. If you're not ready to plant right away, you can store them in the shipping box or keep them in the bag with the vermiculite. Just place them in a cool, dark spot—but not somewhere freezing. No need to take notes now—we include easy-to-follow directions with your order!

We typically ship tubers from late April to mid-May, depending on the weather. We watch the weather and send them at the first opportunity.

It is one tuber per dahlia ordered but it will produce! The tuber creates a bush like plant that will create blooms from mid July to the first frost.