Not Wishbone, Not Impatiens: The Vibrant Annual Flower That Looks Great In Summer Gardens

One of the best parts of planting a garden full of annuals versus perennials is that you can easily switch up the flowers included in your outdoor space each year. This means that no two summers have to be the same. With this flexibility, you may be looking for a new flower to add to your garden. Wishbones and impatiens are popular choices for annual flowers, but they're not the only options you have available. Instead, you may be interested in a flower like this vibrant annual that makes a good cut flower and attracts backyard wildlife such as butterflies.

The trademarked 'Dalina Grande Emilio' Dahlia (Dahlia 'Dalina Grande Emilio') is a show-stopping flower that blooms from July to September, filling your summer garden with vibrant color. Often grown as an annual in cooler climates, it pulls its weight in the garden for the season it's there. You can use it to start a pollinator garden, as it attracts beneficial animals like hummingbirds in addition to butterflies, or you can create a cut flower garden. If you're looking to add color to a specific spot in your garden, you should know that these dahlias grow well when added directly to your landscaping or in a container.

Overall, dahlias are considered relatively easy to grow. However, they do require some regular care, such as deadheading and regularly fertilizing, to help them truly thrive in your garden.

Since dahlias like 'Dalina Grande Emilio' are often grown as annuals in cooler climates, the first step is learning more about their sunlight and frost requirements. After all, when you're planting show-stopping dahlia varieties for a vibrant summer garden, you want to encourage as many of those colorful blooms as possible. When growing this specific variety of dahlia, keep in mind that it grows best when it's offered full sun. This means that it needs at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. As a result, don't be afraid to add this sun-loving flower to the brighter areas of your yard, whether that's a flower bed or a container on a sunny patio. Dahlias should only be planted outdoors once all risk of frost has passed, as cold temperatures can damage or kill the tubers. 

Once you've pinned down the best place to add these flowers to in your garden, the next step is learning how to properly care for them. These dahlias can offer several months of eye-catching blooms, but only when you take the right steps to ensure they're not just surviving but thriving. Deadheading plays a large role in this. When you pinch off those lackluster or spent flowers, it encourages the plant to continue producing blooms, which helps extend blooming season, especially when paired with other handy habits like fertilizing. 'Dalina Grande Emilio' dahlias will often grow best when they are fertilized weekly, specifically a water-soluble blend designed for flowering plants.