Dahlia Spartacus

Adding drama to gardens or bouquets, Dahlia ‘Spartacus’ produces profuse, huge, velvety, black-crimson flowers with wonderful wavy petals. The fully double flowers, up to 9 in. wide (22 cm), are borne atop strong stems from summer to frost and provide an amazing focal point in the garden or in a vase. This dahlia grows up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and is a knockout as a cut flower or tall, back of the border dahlia.

Adding drama to gardens or bouquets, Dahlia 'Spartacus' produces profuse, huge, velvety, black-crimson flowers with wonderful wavy petals. The fully double flowers, up to 9 in. wide (22 cm), are borne atop strong stems from summer to frost and provide an amazing focal point in the garden or in a vase. This dahlia grows up to 4-5 ft. tall (120-150 cm) and is a knockout as a cut flower or tall, back of the border dahlia.

  • Best flowering occurs in full sun, but light shade will be welcomed in hot summer areas.
  • Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and do not allow soils dry out. Plant in a sheltered location to protect your dahlias from strong winds.
  • Best in groups of 5 for best visual effect. Deadhead spent flowers to promote growth of additional flower buds.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • If you live in a cool area (hardiness zones 3-7) and you want to save your dahlia bulbs, or more precisely, your dahlia tubers for next spring, you may dig them up before the first frost and store them over winter before replanting them next spring. Store them in boxes, covered with moistened sand in a cool, dark, frost-free place where temperature remains between 45-50 °F (7-10°C).
  • This Dahlia is a member of the Decorative Dahlias. These are double dahlias with broad, flat-tipped petals that are sometimes wavy. The flowers are normally large and the plants easily top 40 inches tall, although there are even taller varieties. They can be formal with flat petals evenly and regularly placed throughout the flowers, or informal with generally flat petals, sometimes slightly rolled at the tips, but with irregular arrangement of formation. They are all real eye-catchers!

Requirements

Hardiness 8
– 11

Heat Zones 1
– 11

Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Dahlia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)Fall
Height 4'
– 5'
(120cm
– 150cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 18″
– 24″
(45cm
– 60cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage