Dahlia Akita

A real showstopper, Dahlia 'Akita' features huge blooms with large chrysanthemum petals in shades of dark crimson to red, blending to yellow toward their heart and tipped white on their underside. The flowers are as large as 5 in. wide (13 cm), with layers and layers of incurved petals. A dazzling dahlia that is sure to impress you as well as your neighbors! Blooming massively from midsummer until frost, this dahlia grows up to 36-48 in. (90-120 cm) and is an excellent choice for sunny beds and borders.

• 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 to 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 the 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 the 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 formation arrangement. They are all real eye-catchers!