The Karma dahlia is a beautiful and unique flower that has become increasingly popular in recent years. Often called the “perfect dahlia,” this eye-catching bloom features vibrant colors and a striking form that make it stand out in any garden. In the following article, we will explore everything you need to know about the Karma dahlia, including its history, characteristics, care requirements, and growing tips. Whether you are an experienced gardener or simply looking to learn more about this botanical beauty, read on to uncover the mysteries of this modern dahlia sensation.
What is a dahlia?
To understand the Karma dahlia, it is helpful to first learn what defines a dahlia in general. Dahlias are tuberous perennial flowers that originate from Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. There are over 30 species of dahlia and tens of thousands of hybrids and cultivars. The plants grow from tubers, which are clusters of fleshy roots. The tubers store water and nutrients to help the plants survive year after year.
Dahlias come in a wide array of colors, sizes, and forms. Flower colors include white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, and bicolors. The blooms range in size from 2 inches to over 12 inches in diameter. There are many different flower forms as well, including single, peony, anemone, collarette, cactus, semi-cactus, and more.
Overall, dahlias are prized for their showy, vibrant flowers that bloom throughout the summer and into fall. The diversity among dahlia cultivars allows gardeners to find options suitable for landscape plantings, container gardens, and cut flowers. With proper care and overwintering of the tubers, dahlia plants will continue performing for many years.
What makes the Karma dahlia unique?
The Karma dahlia stands out from other dahlia varieties in several ways:
Vibrant colors – The Karma dahlia blooms in vivid shades of red, purple, pink, orange, yellow, and white. The coloring is brighter and bolder than many standard dahlia cultivars.
Large, full flowers – Karma dahlias produce abundant, multi-layered flowers up to 8 inches in diameter. The full, peony-formed blooms have tightly packed, ruffly petals.
Excellent performance – Karma dahlias are prolific bloomers, producing masses of flowers throughout the growing season without deadheading. They perform well in both gardens and containers.
Compact growth habit – The plants grow 2 to 4 feet tall with a bushy, compact form. This makes them suitable for borders and containers.
Disease resistance – Karma dahlias have demonstrated better resistance to common diseases like powdery mildew compared to older cultivars.
Hardiness – Karma dahlias are slightly more cold hardy than typical dahlias. With protection, they can overwinter in some climates.
With striking beauty, reliable performance, and resilience, the Karma dahlia has become a go-to selection for dahlia enthusiasts and gardeners.
History of the Karma dahlia
Karma dahlias were bred by expert dahlia hybridizer Christian Jung of Germany. Jung patented and introduced the original Karma cultivar in 2003.
Jung used modern breeding techniques to develop a dahlia with exceptional hardiness, heat-resistance, large double blooms, and a compact growth form. By crossing Cactus and Decorative dahlia types from his breeding lines, he successfully created a unique new hybrid.
The original Karma dahlia was named an All-America Selections Bedding Plant Award Winner in 2009. Jung has since bred many additional Karma dahlia cultivars in a diverse range of flower forms and colors.
Karma dahlias quickly became prized by cut flower growers and home gardeners alike for their productivity, vivid colors, and resilience in the landscape. Demand for Karma dahlias continues to increase around the world as the breeding work of Jung and others improves the offerings.
Characteristics of the Karma dahlia
Karma dahlias have several defining physical and performance characteristics that set them apart:
Flower form – Blooms are generally double, peony-formed flowers with two or more rows of ruffly, twisted petals. Some Karma varieties have single, orchid, or waterlily style flowers.
Flower size – Flowers range from 4 to 8 inches across, with 6 inches being typical.
Colors – Karma dahlias come in virtually every color except blue. Bright red, purple, pink, orange, yellow, white and bicolors are most common.
Bloom time – Plants begin blooming in midsummer and flower abundantly right up until fall frost. Deadheading is not required to prolong bloom.
Plant height – Most Karma dahlias grow 24 to 48 inches tall. Dwarf Karma varieties max out at 18 inches.
Hardiness – Considered moderately hardy, with good tolerance of heat, humidity, and cooler fall nights. Some varieties can overwinter in zones 7 and warmer.
Disease resistance – Karma dahlias have very good resistance to powdery mildew and other fungal diseases.
Productivity – Each plant can produce dozens of blooms at a time for months on end. Excellent for cut flowers.
By combining beauty, vigor, and resilience, Karma dahlias offer outstanding performance for landscapers and gardeners.
How to grow Karma dahlias
Though low-maintenance compared to other dahlias, Karma dahlias still have some particular growing needs:
Sunlight – Karma dahlias require a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Morning sun is ideal.
Soil – Grow Karma dahlias in fertile, well-draining soil. Amend clay or sandy soils with compost.
Planting – Plant tubers or potted plants after all danger of frost has passed. Space 18-24 inches apart in holes 6 inches deep.
Water – Provide 1-2 inches of water per week. Avoid wetting foliage. Use drip irrigation in dry climates.
Fertilizer – Apply a balanced fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during active growth and blooming.
Staking – Insert 2-3 foot stakes at planting time. Tie plants loosely to stakes as they grow.
Deadheading – No deadheading is needed, but faded blooms can be removed for neater appearance.
Overwintering – In cold climates, lift tubers after first frost and store dormant over winter. In zones 7+, mulch in winter.
With the right growing conditions and care, Karma dahlias will generously reward gardeners with months of vivid, long-lasting blooms.
Popular Karma dahlia varieties
Karma dahlias come in a diverse range of flower forms, colors, and plant sizes. Here are some of the most popular varieties to consider:
Karma Corona – Bold red semi-cactus blooms up to 8 inches wide on 30 inch plants. Prolific bloomer.
Karma Naomi – Lovely lavender-pink flowers with yellow centers on compact 18-24 inch plants.
Karma Serena – Vivid purplish-pink 6 inch blooms on sturdy 30 inch plants.
Karma Choc – Unique chocolate-burgundy flowers turn golden orange at bloom centers.
Karma Bon Bini – Peach and burnt orange bicolor flowers on bushy, 30 inch tall plants.
Karma Prospero – Dense white flowers flushed with lavender pink edges.
Karma Red Imp – Fiery red flowers on dwarf 10-12 inch plants, ideal for containers.
Karma Pink Corona – Fully double 8 inch pink blooms on sturdy 36 inch stems, a cut flower favorite.
Karma Helen – Cheerful sunshine yellow 6 inch single blooms with dark centers.
Karma Royal Purple – Deep royal purple flowers aging to violet, great landscape plant.
With so many stunning options to choose from, it’s easy to find several Karma dahlia varieties to spotlight in your garden design.
Tips for growing Karma dahlias
Follow these helpful tips and tricks for successfully growing vibrant Karma dahlias:
– Plant in fertile, compost-amended soil with good drainage.
– Space plants 18-24 inches apart to allow for growth and air circulation.
– Water early in the day. Use drip irrigation if possible to keep foliage dry.
– After blooming begins, apply a liquid bloom booster fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
– Insert tall stakes at planting time and loosely tie stems to support top-heavy flowers.
– Grow as annuals in zones 6 and colder. Overwinter the tubers in a cool dark place.
– In warmer climates, mulch roots well in fall and plants may overwinter in the ground.
– Monitor for aphids, slugs, and earwigs and use organic controls if pests appear.
– Deadhead to prolong bloom, but it’s not essential. Deadheading prevents seed formation.
– Propagate by dividing tuber clumps or from stem cuttings in summer.
With the Karma dahlia’s built-in disease resistance and resilience to heat, caring for them is quite straightforward in home gardens. Give them a sunny spot and some regular water to keep them thriving through the season.
Where to buy Karma dahlias
Karma dahlias can be purchased from the following sources:
– Local garden centers and nurseries – Many carry a selection of popular Karma varieties.
– Online specialty nurseries – Sites like Eden Brothers or American Meadows offer a wide selection of tubers and potted plants.
– Dahlia societies – Local dahlia growers and clubs sell tubers; a great source for unique varieties.
– Specialty catalogs – Jung Seed, Bluestone Perennials, and Breck’s sell Karma tubers by mail order.
– Online marketplaces – Etsy and eBay sellers offer many hard-to-find Karma dahlia tubers.
– Fellow gardeners – Connect with other dahlia enthusiasts to trade tubers and cuttings.
For the widest selection, try ordering Karma dahlia tubers online from specialty suppliers. If buying potted plants locally, inspect roots and stems closely for good health and vigor.
Are Karma dahlias annuals or perennials?
Karma dahlias are tender perennials in zones 8-11, meaning the tubers can be left in the ground over winter in mild climates. In colder zones, they must be dug up and stored indoors to survive.
Here is a breakdown by planting zone:
– Zones 2-6 – Grow as annuals and treat as tender bulbs. Dig up tubers in fall and store over winter.
– Zones 7-9 – With heavy mulching, established plants may return in spring. Still best to dig tubers for storage.
– Zones 10-11 – Can be grown as perennials. Mulch well in winter and plants will return each year. Divide bulbs every 2-3 years.
Even in warm zones, some gardeners find overwintering Karma dahlias unreliable and choose to treat them as annuals. Storing the tubers guarantees viability the following season.
In any climate, new plants must be grown from tubers each season. Karma dahlias do not come true from seed. Dividing clumps in spring yields more plants for free.
Are Karma dahlias good for containers?
Yes, Karma dahlias are excellent choices for container gardening. Their bushy, compact growth habit fits nicely into pots and planters.
Certain Karma varieties work better than others in containers:
– Focus on dwarf and medium height cultivars under 3 feet tall. Taller varieties may topple over or look stretched.
– Select smaller-flowered types no more than 6 inches across. Giant blooms on short plants appear overly large.
– Look for cultivars bred specifically for containers like Karma Red Imp.
– Use at least a 10-12 inch diameter container and provide supports for top-heavy plants.
– Keep potting mix consistently moist. Container plants dry out faster than in-ground plantings.
With their profuse blooms and manageable size, Karma dahlias help create stunning mixed planters and patio pots for spaces short on garden room.
Do Karma dahlias come back every year?
Karma dahlias are perennial in zones 8-11 and their tubers may survive some winters with heavy mulching. However, most gardeners find them unreliable as return perennials.
Here’s why Karma dahlias are best treated as annuals:
– Unlike hardy bulb flowers, dahlia tubers have less natural cold tolerance and often rot or freeze.
– Only very mature, deep-rooted plants are marginally winter hardy. Younger plants invariably die off.
– Getting early, bushy growth requires planting tubers, not waiting for sprouts.
– Overwintering tubers ensures you start with vigorous, disease-free plants each spring.
– Starting new tubers avoids decline in plant performance as original tubers age.
– You can change up colors and varieties much easier when tubers are stored.
For the most success and flexibility in any climate, grow Karma dahlias as annuals and rely on tubers for an annual re-do.
Conclusion
Karma dahlias have become hugely popular for their vivid colors, robust blooming, and resilience in gardens and containers. While originator Jung created the first hybrids, the Karma name encompasses thousands of unique dahlia cultivars today.
Though a modern invention, Karma dahlias take inspiration from their diverse dahlia genetics to create flowers with exceptional performance and curb appeal. With tubers to spare and little required care, gardeners will continue to find Karma dahlias a reliable staple of successful summer planting.
