Dead dahlia flower heads can be very deceiving. The flowers begin as rounded, firm buds and gradually open up and bloom. Then, unlike many flowers where the petals just drop off, old dahlia flowers close and actually look like a pointed bud that is ready to open. If you press them though, they are spongy rather than firm. If you prise one open, you will see that there are no colourful petals ready to unfurl.
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| Firm, round, 'Fascination' dahlia bud about to open. |
As my dahlias never get a chance to form dead heads - I remove the old flowers before they get to that point - I took a couple of photos elsewhere. The thing about dead-heading dahlia flowers before they get to this stage is that, if you keep up to it, you force the dahlia to keep on blooming and for a longer period. It's like a lot of flowering plants; dead heading stops them from setting seed, 'thinking' they have done their job, and 'thinking' they can now just relax and stop producing flowers.
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| Soft pointed dahlia bud after flowering. Deadhead now. |
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| Dahlia dead head, now hollow. |
Can I urge you to grow plenty of open flowers in your garden so that the
nectar and pollen is exposed? Give bees a chance!
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| Bee enjoying the dahlia |
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