Dahlias: My Seasonal Love Affair (And Why You Should Be Obsessed Too)
Every year, right when the Melbourne summer starts to feel like it’s melting my eyebrows off, something magical happens: the dahlias return. And honestly? I lose my mind a little. As a floral artist, I work with a lot of blooms—but dahlias? They’re my absolute favourite muse. They’re the ones that make me drop everything, grab my snips, and whisper “oh hello, gorgeous” like a lunatic in a flower field.
Melbourne Seasonality & Availability
Here in Melbourne, dahlia season runs from about January to April, ( if you’re lucky, you miiiight be able to squeeze a few out of your wholesaler in December!) and those months feel like a creative sugar high. Local growers bring them in by the armful, and every time I walk into a market, my brain immediately starts designing things I absolutely don’t have time for. But that’s the power of dahlias: when they're in season, nothing else matters.
A Colour Palette That Makes Me Emotional
Dahlias come in almost every colour you can dream up except a true blue or black, and even then, some varieties get pretty close. Pastel blush tones that feel like morning light. Deep burgundies that look like velvet. Corals so juicy they should count as fruit. And the bi-colours? Don’t get me started—some of them look hand-painted. See the speckled one in the attached image? Dreamy! There’s something deeply satisfying about being able to match a mood, a moment, or an entire event just by choosing the right dahlia.
Shapes & Sizes That Keep Me Up at Night (In a Good Way)
The range is ridiculous..but in a good way. There are the petite pompons, perfectly spherical and irresistibly cute. The waterlily forms, with their serene, symmetrical layers. The cactus dahlias, spiky and dramatic like they’re auditioning for a floral rock band. And of course, the dinner plates—those massive, bold blooms that make every arrangement feel like it’s showing off. Each variety has its own personality, and I love designing with that in mind. It’s like casting flowers in a play.
Cut Flower Longevity: The Bittersweet Truth
Are dahlias the longest-lasting cut flowers? Absolutely not. Will I stop using them because of that? Absolutely not. Fresh, well-harvested dahlias usually give you around 3–5 days in a vase, sometimes a touch more if you treat them kindly. But honestly, their impact in those few days is worth ten days of something bland and predictable. They’re fleeting—but that’s part of the romance.
In Short:
Dahlias are the charismatic, slightly over-the-top artist friends of the flower world. When they’re around, everything feels more vibrant, more creative, more alive. And when they’re gone, I’m basically counting down until their return.
If you’re a die hard fan of Dahlias just like me, and you have a summer wedding or awesome intimate event or installation on the cards, you can get on it in just a couple of weeks. I managed to get some imported from Sydney for this past weekend (right at the end of November), but the pickings were slim. Give Melbourne a moment to warm up and then boom, you’re in.
