if you’re looking to jazz up a patio or fill a few pots with beautiful blooms, then growing dahlias in a container or two isn’t just a possibility – it's encouraged!

You can grow almost any compact to medium-sized dahlia in a well-placed pot! Here’s how to grow your favourite dahlias in a gorgeous pot like a professional, with help from our gardening experts.

How to Plant Dahlias in Pots

If the Dahlia is an appropriate size, it can be planted in containers. Ensure the pot has suitable drainage with holes at the bottom and is large enough for the tubers to grow big and strong! It’s recommended that pots for dahlias are at least 30cm across.

Dahlias can be started early in the season, following the instructions below. They will eventually need hardening off (gradually acclimatising them to outdoor temperatures) once the threat of frost has passed. You can also plant them up outside after this point.

1. Fill your pot with any multi-purpose compost until you’ve reached its halfway point.

2. Mix in any organic matter and slow-release plant food.

3. Add your tuber with the stem pointing to the sky and the tuberous roots downward. (If you’re planting potted dahlias, do so at the same depth as they were in their original pot.)

4. Cover with compost, with the stalk just below the soil level. Keep inside, or in a greenhouse while they grow.

5. Water every day, especially during hot weather, or when the soil is dry to the touch.

6. Containers can be moved outside from mid-late May if all threat of frost has passed.

Want to learn more about growing and planting dahlias? Our  Dahlia growing guide shows you how, with top tips and advice from our gardening experts.

What dahlias can you grow in pots?

Loads of Dahlias can be grown in pots on the patio! For a low-maintenance display, dwarf or compact dahlias are ideal for containers and patio pots. But, like Hannah (Our RHS–certified garden expert) always says, any dahlia can be potted if the pot’s big enough. Here are a few of our favourite dahlias for your pot.

Dark-leaf dahlias



Dark leaf dahlias aren’t just a pretty face; they’re practical too. With dark brooding leaves and vibrant flowers, what’s not to love? Thankfully, they are perfect for pots. We highly recommend dark-leaf favourites like Dahlia Pulp Fiction and Dahlia Sunshine!

Gallery Dahlias

Loved for their compact height and impressive double blooms, gallery dahlias light up pots with ease. Growing to heights of 30-50cm, they’re right in the sweet spot for a small to medium pot.  Dahlia Gallery Art Deco and Dahlia Gallery Art Nouveau are great examples of what this range has to offer. If you’re filling a large border, our Gallery Dahlia Mixed will help you achieve that on a budget.

Dwarf Dahlias

Dwarf dahlias hold some of the most beloved dahlia ranges under its umbrella. They're often used for lining walkways, or fitting smaller gaps that your more traditional (and taller) dahlias would take over. The Dahlia Princess range sits within this category, providing large rounded flower heads in a typical pom pom dahlia shape. Dahlia Princess Gracia is a great example. Or, if you want to fill a few containers, mixtures like Dahlia Happy Single Mix will add a cheerful

Dahliettas

Dahliettas are different to the above as they are supplied as annual plug plants. They are easier to plant, but may only act as an annual as dahlias aren't frost-hardy. However, if you're after an easy-growing and low-maintenance display, then our dahliettas are a dream!  Dahlia Dahlietta Surprise Demi is a great example of this range, providing striking bicoloured purple blooms. 


As a rule of thumb, Dahlias that are max 60-70cm tall are perfect for planting in pots. Any bigger than that, and you may find that they struggle to thrive. Not only because there's not enough soil or nutrients to sustain their growth, but also because they can get quite top-heavy and need staking. That alone requires quite a bit of space. So if you have the border space, we recommend planting your bigger dahlias in there, sticking to more compact varieties for pots. 


Hannah's Top Dahlia Tips

Learn more about dahlia planting with Hannah, our RHS-qualified gardening expert. In this video, she explains when you should lift dahlias before winter comes knocking. 

You can also follow us on  TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to stay up to date with Hannah's gardening tips!