Dahlia Tahiti Sunrise

Dahlia ‘Tahiti Sunrise’ is a real show-stealer, bringing bold, tropical colour to the garden for months on end. It produces striking bi-coloured blooms with a bright lemon-yellow centre that transitions outwards to vivid magenta-pink or fuchsia-red tips—a glowing, sunset-style effect that pops brilliantly in borders and patio pots. It’s perfect for hot colour schemes, and it also looks amazing planted alongside deep purples or dark foliage to make those colours look even more electric.

Flowering from midsummer right through to the first frosts, ‘Tahiti Sunrise’ is also a fantastic cut flower. Keep deadheading (or pick regularly) and it will keep producing fresh blooms all season.

Planting Instructions

When to Plant:

Plant Dahlia tubers in spring. For the earliest flowers, start tubers in pots indoors from March to April, then plant out once the risk of frost has passed. If planting directly outside, wait until late spring when the soil has warmed.

Where to Plant:
Choose a sunny, sheltered position with fertile, well-drained soil. Dahlias are ideal for mixed borders, cutting gardens and patio containers. They love warmth and perform best in full sun.

How to Plant:

• Depth: Plant tubers about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) deep, with the old stem (or growing point) facing upwards.
• Spacing: Space plants 45–60 cm (18–24 inches) apart, depending on the final size.
• Soil Prep: Enrich the planting area with well-rotted compost or manure. In heavy soil, improve drainage with grit.

Watering:
Water after planting. Once shoots appear and growth is underway, keep soil evenly moist, especially in dry spells. Avoid waterlogging. Container-grown Dahlias may need watering daily in hot weather.

Aftercare Tips:

• Pinch out the growing tip once plants are around 30 cm tall to encourage bushier growth and more flowers.
• Stake taller stems if needed, especially in exposed borders.
• Deadhead regularly (or cut for the vase) to keep plants flowering until autumn.
• After the first frost blackens the foliage, lift tubers and store dry and frost-free over winter, or protect in the ground with a thick mulch in milder areas.

Top Tip:
To really show off that lemon-yellow centre and fuchsia-red tipping, plant Dahlia ‘Tahiti Sunrise’ with dark foliage or deep purple companions—the contrast is sensational.

Plant Details

Flowering Period:
July - October (until first frosts)

Height:
24–36" (60–90cm) (approx. depending on conditions)

Position:
Full sun

Tender Perennial:

Overwinter tubers frost-free in the UK