How to Grow Forever Bicolor Dahlia
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Forever Bicolor Dahlia
Dahlia × hybridus 'Forever Bicolor'
flowerForever Bicolor is a stunning decorative dahlia cultivar featuring large, fully double blooms with striking red and white coloring in a reliable bicolor pattern. This award-winning variety produces abundant flowers throughout the growing season and is prized for cut flowers and garden displays. It's a vigorous, well-branching plant that performs consistently in most climates.
When should you plant Forever Bicolor Dahlia in your zone?
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Example Forever Bicolor Dahlia timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Forever Bicolor Dahlia
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 Forever Bicolor Dahlia blooms
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Forever Bicolor Dahlia dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3b-10a; treat as annual in colder zones or lift tubers for winter storage
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Dormant Tuber
Until spring or when soil reaches 60°FDahlia tubers are stored underground in a dormant state with visible eyes or growth buds.
Store tubers in a cool (50-60°F), dry location over winter. Check monthly for rot or sprouting. Plant in spring after last frost and soil has warmed.
Emergence & Early Growth
3-4 weeksSprouts emerge and develop 3-4 true leaves; plant grows 6-12 inches tall with branching stems forming.
Pinch the center stem when 12-18 inches tall to encourage bushier growth and more flower buds. Keep soil consistently moist. Apply mulch to conserve water and regulate temperature.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops robust, branched structure with abundant foliage; reaches 3-4 feet in height; no flower buds yet.
Support with stakes or cages early to prevent wind damage. Remove lower leaves for air circulation. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks or use slow-release granules. Monitor for pests.
Flowering
8-12 weeks (until first frost)Abundant large, fully double red and white bicolor blooms appear at branch tips and continue prolifically until frost.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming. Water deeply during hot spells. Apply phosphorus-rich fertilizer (like 5-10-10) weekly to support flowering. Cut flowers in early morning for best vase life.
Senescence & Dormancy
Varies by zone; typically late October through winterBlooming slows as temperatures drop; foliage may yellow; plant prepares for dormancy after first frost.
In zones 3b-8, dig tubers after first frost blackens foliage. Clean tubers, dry, and store in cool location. In warmer zones, mulch heavily to protect tubers through winter.
Common Pests
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Hand-pick in early morning; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; set beetle traps nearby (away from dahlias); encourage beneficial wasps
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Spray foliage with water to dislodge; apply neem oil or miticide; increase humidity; ensure adequate air circulation
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and
(Limax and Helix spp.)
Remove by hand in evening; use copper barriers or slug bait; encourage ground beetles and other predators; reduce mulch thickness near stems
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove affected flowers; use yellow sticky traps; introduce predatory mites
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Ensure good air circulation; spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate; water at soil level only; remove affected foliage; avoid overhead watering
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Plant in well-draining soil; avoid overwatering; ensure good air circulation; dig and discard infected tubers; sterilize tools; use fungicide as preventive
Uses
Edible Petals
CulinaryDahlia petals are edible with a slightly spicy, peppery flavor and can be used fresh in salads, as garnish for desserts, or crystallized for decoration. [source]
Cut Flowers & Floral Arrangements
CraftForever Bicolor is an exceptional cut flower with long stems, large blooms, and excellent vase life, making it ideal for bouquets, wedding arrangements, and floral design. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeDouble dahlias produce less pollen and nectar than single varieties, but can still attract bees and butterflies; single varieties better for pollinators. [source]
Garden Display & Ornamental Beauty
HouseholdThe striking red and white bicolor blooms make Forever Bicolor an eye-catching focal point in perennial borders, cottage gardens, and landscape design throughout the growing season. [source]
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers in early morning when stems are fully hydrated for longest vase life (7-10 days). Cut just above a leaf node at a 45-degree angle. Strip lower leaves to prevent bacterial growth. Change water every 2-3 days and recut stems. Deadhead spent blooms on the plant to extend flowering season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Dahlias are native to Mexico and were sacred to the Aztecs, who used them for food and ceremonies; they weren't introduced to Europe until the 18th century.
- 🌱 The dahlia was named after Swedish botanist Anders Dahl in the 1700s and has become the national flower of Mexico.
- 🌱 Forever Bicolor won the prestigious Fleuroselect Gold Medal for garden performance, recognized internationally for its reliability, vigor, and consistent bicolor blooming.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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