Pinelands Pam Dahlia is a popular and striking cultivar, cherished by gardeners for its vibrant blooms and ability to enhance late-season garden displays. It is a favored choice for adding dramatic flair to landscapes with its large, showy flowers.
Unique Characteristics
Pinelands Pam Dahlia is known for its fimbriated decorative bloom form, with distinctly split petals, creating a fringed or “powderpuff” appearance. These eye-catching flowers display a brilliant color palette, typically featuring sunny yellow at the center, transitioning to vibrant red or pink tips. This striking color combination gives the impression of a “firework caught mid-explosion”.
The blooms are substantial, generally measuring between 7 to 10 inches (20-25 cm) in diameter. The plants themselves can reach a height of 3 to 5 feet (90 cm to 1.5 meters), with a spread of about 20 inches (50 cm). Pinelands Pam Dahlia offers an extended flowering period, typically blooming from July through October, providing continuous color in the garden.
Planting and Growing
Pinelands Pam Dahlia tubers should be planted after the last spring frost, once the soil temperature has reached at least 60°F (15°C). Selecting a site that receives full sunlight is important. Well-draining, fertile soil is also beneficial; amending heavy clay soil with compost or organic matter can improve drainage and provide necessary nutrients.
When planting, tubers should be placed about 4 to 6 inches deep, with the “eyes” or growing tips facing upward. Space individual plants approximately 24 to 36 inches apart. After planting, it is best to wait until green shoots emerge from the soil before watering thoroughly.
Ongoing Care
Once green sprouts appear, consistent moisture is important, requiring deep watering two to three times per week, or daily if grown in containers. Fertilize plants every two to three weeks for container-grown dahlias, or every three to four weeks for those in the ground, using a fertilizer with a lower nitrogen content and higher phosphorus to encourage robust blooms and strong stems. Too much nitrogen can lead to weak stems and reduced flower production.
Due to their impressive height, Pinelands Pam Dahlias often benefit from staking to prevent their large, heavy blooms from causing stems to bend or break. Supports should be put in place when plants are still small, typically in late spring. Regularly deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. Pinching back the main shoot when the plant is about 12 inches tall can encourage more branching and a bushier plant with more flowers.
Overwintering
In regions where winter temperatures fall below USDA Hardiness Zone 8, Pinelands Pam Dahlia tubers are not hardy and must be dug up for storage. After the first frost has turned the foliage brown, gently dig up the tuber clumps. Shake off soil and allow the tubers to dry for a few days in a frost-free location.
Once dry, store the tubers in a cool, dark, and frost-free environment. They can be placed in crates or trays, covered with slightly moist peat moss, dry sand, or wood shavings to prevent drying out. Proper storage prevents rotting or drying out.