The Inland Northwest. A region of the country not well suited to growing dahlias. Only the toughest varieties survive.

This is not Western Washington (the happy place for dahlias). Here in North Central Washington, cold winters reluctantly give way to spring with unpredictably late frosts. We usually aim to plant around June 1st and often have to scramble to cover plants once or twice. Newly sprouted dahlias immediately face many summer days over 100 degrees, with most days over 90. In our semi-arid climate, dahlias grow along side sage brush, cheat grass and tumble weeds; hot dusty winds lead to persistent spider mite outbreaks. Just before show time, a strong windstorm inevitably pummels the dahlia patch.

Fall frosts come in late September or early October. We can only hope that frost holds off long enough to allow seeds to ripen. The growing season is relatively short and extreme in all aspects. Still, we labor on, if only for those amazing couple of weeks in September when the colors of the blooms become vibrant and pure and the leaves look healthy and green. We often wonder how wonderful it would be to grow dahlias on ‘the westside’. If you know, you know.

Here at Northwind Dahlias, we are specifically breeding and selecting for seedlings that grow well in hot dry climates, resist spider mites, have strong growth characteristics and tubers that store well.