How to Grow Double Ellen
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Double Ellen
Dahlia × hybrida 'Double Ellen'
flowerDouble Ellen is a stunning dahlia cultivar known for its large, fully double blooms with vibrant coloring and robust plant structure. It produces abundant flowers throughout the growing season, making it an excellent choice for cut flowers and garden displays. This mid-sized dahlia variety is prized by gardeners and florists for its reliability and prolific blooming.
When should you plant Double Ellen in your zone?
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Example Double Ellen timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Double Ellen
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Double Ellen blooms
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Double Ellen dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Dahlias thrive in zones 8-10; in cooler zones (3-7), grow as annuals or dig and store tubers over winter
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Tuber Sprouting
2-3 weeksTuber develops eyes and sends up initial shoots from underground. Foliage is just beginning to emerge above soil.
Plant after last frost when soil is warm (60°F+). Keep soil evenly moist. Support shoots if planting in windy areas.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant rapidly produces stems and pinnate green foliage. Multiple shoots emerge, creating a bushy structure. No flowers yet.
Water regularly and deeply. Pinch out center stem when plant reaches 12-18 inches to encourage branching and bushier form. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Bud Formation
1-2 weeksTerminal buds appear at stem tips. Plant is at full height (3-4 feet for Double Ellen). Leaves are dark green and healthy.
Increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flowering. Continue regular watering. Provide staking or caging for support as buds add weight.
Flowering
8-12 weeks until frostLarge, fully double blooms open in succession. Flowers are numerous and continue through season. Petals are layered and full.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Water at soil level to keep flowers dry. Stake tall stems. Cut flowers in early morning for longer vase life.
Senescence/Dormancy
Variable; storage through winterFirst frost blackens foliage. Tuber goes dormant underground. Plant dies back completely in cold climates.
In zones 8-10, allow foliage to die back naturally before cleanup. In cooler zones, dig tubers after first frost, wash, dry, and store in cool (50-60°F), dark place in peat or sawdust until spring.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with strong water stream, insecticidal soap, or neem oil. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
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Increase humidity, spray with water, use miticide or neem oil if severe. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Remove infested flowers, use yellow sticky traps, spray with spinosad or insecticidal soap.
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Hand-pick beetles, use row covers early season, apply pyrethrin or neem oil spray.
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Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate fungicide.
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and
Remove debris and hiding spots, use beer traps, copper tape barriers, or slug pellets. Hand-pick at night.
Uses
Edible flowers
CulinaryDahlia petals are edible and can be used as garnish for salads, desserts, and cocktails. They have a slightly sweet, tuberose-like flavor and add visual elegance to dishes. [source]
Cut flowers and arrangements
HouseholdDouble Ellen's large, full blooms make them exceptional cut flowers for bouquets, floral arrangements, and wedding displays. Their long vase life and prolific production make them ideal for regular harvesting. [source]
Flower pressing and preservation
CraftThe fully double petals of Double Ellen can be pressed and dried for use in crafts, cards, artwork, and botanical specimens. Their color typically remains vibrant after drying. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeWhile fully double varieties attract fewer pollinators than single-petal types, dahlias still provide valuable nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. [source]
Traditional herbal uses
MedicinalIn traditional medicine, dahlia tubers have been used in some cultures for various remedies. Modern research is limited, but historical uses included digestive and anti-inflammatory applications. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Use clean, sharp shears to cut at a 45-degree angle. Remove lower foliage from cut stems. Place immediately in cool water with floral preservative. Dahlia blooms last 7-10 days in a vase. Continue deadheading spent flowers on the plant to promote more blooms throughout the season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Dahlias are native to Mexico and were cultivated by the Aztecs, who used them for food and ceremonies. They became wildly popular in Victorian gardens after their introduction to Europe in the 18th century.
- 🌱 Double Ellen and other fully double dahlias don't produce pollen or nectar in the center of their flowers due to the transformation of reproductive structures into petals, which is why they're less attractive to pollinators than single varieties.
- 🌱 Dahlia tubers can be divided annually to create new plants—each sprout or 'eye' on a tuber can develop into a new plant, allowing gardeners to multiply their stock each season.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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