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How to Grow Double Ellen Pink Picotee

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Double Ellen Pink Picotee

Dahlia × hybida 'Double Ellen Pink Picotee'

flower

Double Ellen Pink Picotee is a stunning dahlia cultivar featuring fully double flowers with soft pink petals edged in deeper rose-pink, creating an elegant picotee (edged) pattern. This medium-height dahlia produces abundant blooms throughout the growing season and is prized by cut flower enthusiasts and garden collectors. The plants are vigorous growers that reach 3-4 feet tall with lush foliage.

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Example Double Ellen Pink Picotee timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Double Ellen Pink Picotee

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. First Double Ellen Pink Picotee blooms

    Around Jul 1

    ≈ 75 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Double Ellen Pink Picotee dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours preferred for maximum blooms)
💧
Water: Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged; water deeply 1-2 times weekly depending on weather; avoid overhead watering to prevent disease
📏
Spacing: 24-36 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 75-90 days from planting to first bloom
🌱
Planting depth: 4-6 inches for tubers; plant with the 'eye' or sprouted section pointing upward

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil, slightly fertile
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost peat moss perlite balanced slow-release fertilizer

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-10; grown as an annual in colder zones or dug and stored over winter

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Tuber Sprouting

2-4 weeks

Dahlia tuber begins to develop shoots and roots after planting; small sprouts emerge from the 'eye' of the tuber

Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy; maintain warm soil temperature (60-70°F minimum); be patient—sprouting can take 2-3 weeks

2

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks

Foliage develops rapidly with multiple stems and leafy branches; plant grows taller and bushier

Water regularly; pinch or remove the terminal growing tip when plant is 12-18 inches tall to encourage bushier growth and more flower buds; apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks

3

Budding & Flowering

3-4 weeks until peak flowering

Flower buds form at stem tips; blooms begin opening with characteristic pink picotee double flowers; initial blooms may be smaller than later flowers

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming; provide sturdy stakes or cages for support as plants flower heavily; increase phosphorus fertilizer to support blooming

4

Peak Production

8-12 weeks or until first frost

Plant produces abundant, full-sized double pink picotee blooms continuously; flowers reach optimal size and color intensity

Continue deadheading; maintain consistent watering (crucial during hot weather); fertilize every 2 weeks with bloom-promoting formula; monitor for pests and diseases

5

Decline & Frost Sensitivity

Variable; until frost or end of season

Foliage may yellow or decline as temperatures cool; plant becomes dormant after first hard frost; tubers can be dug for storage

In zones 3-7, cut back plants to 6 inches after frost kills foliage; dig tubers carefully and store in cool (40-50°F), dry location; in warm zones, plants may regrow

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Zinnias sunflowers cosmos salvia ornamental grasses coneflowers bee balm verbena

Avoid planting near:

Fennel potatoes (similar pest susceptibility) tomatoes (spider mites)

Common Pests

  • Spray foliage with strong water jet; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap every 7-10 days; maintain humidity and avoid overhead watering

  • Use sticky traps to monitor; spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; remove heavily infested flowers; encourage natural predators

  • Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; spray with fungicide (sulfur or potassium bicarbonate) at first sign; remove affected leaves

  • and

    Hand-pick in early morning; use slug baits or barriers; encourage ground beetles; avoid mulching too close to stems

  • Hand-pick early morning; use row covers on young plants; spray with pyrethrin or neem oil; remove plant debris where beetles overwinter

Uses

🍳

Edible Flower Garnish

Culinary

Dahlia petals are edible with a slightly sweet, spicy flavor and are used to garnish plates, salads, and desserts for visual appeal and subtle flavor enhancement. [source]

🎨

Cut Flowers & Floral Design

Craft

Double Ellen Pink Picotee dahlias are prized by florists and flower arrangers for their stunning double form, excellent vase life, and romantic pink-and-rose coloring, making them ideal for weddings, events, and arrangements. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Though double varieties produce less pollen and nectar than single dahlias, they still attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, contributing to garden ecosystem health. [source]

🏠

Garden Ornament & Landscape Color

Household

With its vibrant pink picotee flowers and tall, bushy form, Double Ellen Pink Picotee serves as a dramatic focal point in garden beds, cottage gardens, and mixed borders throughout the growing season. [source]

💊

Traditional Herbal Use

Medicinal

Dahlia tubers have been used in traditional Chinese and Mexican medicine for their purported anti-inflammatory and blood sugar-regulating properties, though modern scientific evidence is limited. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Begin harvesting blooms when flowers are mostly open but centers still slightly tight (longest vase life); cut early morning or late evening when stems are fully hydrated; remove lower leaves and re-cut stems at an angle; place immediately in cool water with floral preservative; dahlias typically last 5-7 days in a vase. For tuber storage, cut plants back after frost, dig tubers carefully, clean off soil, and cure in a warm (70-80°F), dry location for 1-2 weeks before storing in cool (40-50°F) peat moss or sand.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Dahlias are native to Mexico and were cultivated by the Aztecs, who used them for both food (tubers) and ceremonial purposes; they were introduced to Europe in the 18th century and subsequently bred into thousands of cultivars.
  • 🌱 The picotee pattern (contrasting edging on petals) in Double Ellen Pink Picotee is caused by selective breeding for specific pigment expression; some dahlia cultivars can change their picotee intensity based on temperature and light conditions.
  • 🌱 Dahlia tubers are technically rhizomes and can be divided in spring to propagate plants; a single dahlia plant can produce 5-10 viable tubers by season's end, making them economical perennials in mild climates.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Deadhead Full Sun pH
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