cactus dahlia PINELANDS PRINCESS, (tuber) PERENNIAL FLOWERS

Dahlia 'Pinelands Princess' is a large cactus dahlia that delivers pure garden drama — an extravagant display of spiky, candy-pink flowers with creamy white centers that bloom continuously from midsummer through frost. The perfectly lacinated petals — long, pointed, and reflexed in the classic cactus style — combine with the striking pink-and-cream color combination to create blooms that are equally stunning in the border and exceptional as a cut flower. A plant that earns admiring comments every season it grows.

Sold as a dormant tuber.

Variety Highlights

• Large cactus-type blooms: candy-pink with creamy-white center
• Lacinated, spiky petals in the classic cactus dahlia form
• Excellent cut flower — long stems, outstanding vase life
• Long bloom season: midsummer through the first frost
• Tuberous root — can be lifted and stored for repeat years

Growing Guide

When to plant: Spring, after the ground warms to approximately 50°F. Dahlias are frost-tender — do not rush planting in cold soil.

Planting:

1. Dig a hole 3–4 inches deep
2. Set the tuber firmly in place, with any visible growth eyes facing upward
3. Cover with soil and water thoroughly

Site & soil: Full sun; well-drained soil enriched with compost. Consistent moisture and regular fertilization through the growing season produce the largest, most prolific blooms.

Pinching for maximum flowering: When the plant reaches 18 inches, cut back to 12 inches. Two weeks later, cut back to 18 inches again. This two-stage pinch produces a much-branched plant with dramatically more flowers than unpinched plants.

Deadheading: Remove all spent blooms promptly to encourage continuous flowering through the season.

Winter storage: After the first frost blackens the foliage, lift tubers, allow to dry briefly, and store in barely moist peat or vermiculite in a cool, frost-free location until spring replanting.