Harlequin Mix Dahlia Seeds

Grandmother would have been proud of the eye-catching color and great profusion of bloom offered by this super-easy dahlia from seed. Harlequin Mix is a throwback to the old cottage garden days of bright, cheery mixed flowers, but there's nothing vintage about its bloom strength or garden vigor. This plant blooms heavily all summer, and the plant is so compact it's perfect for all your best flowerpots and window boxes.

The flowers are semi-double bicolors, most with a base petal color of rose, violet, yellow, orange, scarlet, or white, plus a "collar" of shorter petals of either ivory or butter yellow. Add a central cone of bright yellow and you've got one of the most colorful, eye-catching blooms in the garden. Measuring about 2½ inches wide, the flowers are held above the foliage, blanketing the plant when in full bloom.

Just 12 to 14 inches high and wide, this plant is ideal for containers of all types as well as the front of the bed or border. I'd recommend putting it near eye level, where you can enjoy the crazy-quilt of bloom details up close. Harlequin Mix is a very dependable bloomer, growing quickly and keeping the flowers coming all summer long. You can't beat it for upbeat color and sheer flower power.

Easy to grow from seed, this dahlia may be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before last anticipated frost or sown directly into the garden. It will do best in full sun and in moist, fertile, well-drained soil.