How to Grow Nora Barlow Dahlia
Wikimedia Commons
Nora Barlow Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata 'Nora Barlow'
flowerNora Barlow is a stunning ornamental dahlia cultivar known for its unique pompon-like flowers with layered, quilled petals in shades of red, pink, and white. This heirloom variety produces abundant blooms from summer through fall and makes an excellent cut flower. It typically grows 3-4 feet tall and is prized by gardeners for its distinctive, almost feathery petal structure.
When should you plant Nora Barlow Dahlia in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Nora Barlow Dahlia timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Nora Barlow Dahlia
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Nora Barlow Dahlia blooms
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Nora Barlow Dahlia dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8-10; can be grown in zone 7 with winter protection or as an annual
Sign up free to see if Nora Barlow Dahlia grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Nora Barlow Dahlia timeline →Growth Stages
Dormancy & Planting
Winter dormancy or until spring plantingTubers are stored or freshly obtained, showing the growing eye or sprout point. Roots appear pale and inactive.
Store tubers in cool, dry location (50-60°F) until spring. Plant after last frost when soil temperature reaches 60°F. Handle tubers gently to avoid breaking.
Sprout & Shoot Development
3-4 weeksGrowing eye breaks dormancy and produces green shoots. Foliage emerges from soil and begins forming first true leaves.
Keep soil consistently moist to encourage sprouting. Provide support stake early as stems are tender. Apply balanced fertilizer once shoots are 6 inches tall.
Vegetative Growth
6-8 weeksPlant rapidly increases in height and foliage density. Stems become more robust and woody. Plant reaches its full height of 3-4 feet.
Water regularly and deeply. Pinch back growing tips at 12-18 inches to encourage bushiness and more blooms. Continue staking for support. Feed every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer.
Flowering
8-12 weeks or more until first frostAbundant double pompon flowers with distinctive layered, quilled petals emerge in red, pink, and white hues. Buds form continuously from mid-summer onward.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continued blooming. Provide consistent water and weekly feeding with higher-phosphorus fertilizer. Stake tall stems and tie gently to prevent wind damage.
Decline & Dormancy Preparation
4-6 weeks until frostFlowering slows as temperatures drop and days shorten. Foliage may discolor or blacken after first frost. Tubers underground begin storing energy.
Stop fertilizing and gradually reduce watering. After first frost kills foliage, cut stems to 4-6 inches. In zones 7-8, carefully dig tubers, clean, dry, and store in cool location; in warmer zones, may leave in ground with mulch protection.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil on undersides of leaves every 7-10 days as needed
-
Remove affected foliage; apply neem oil or spinosad-based insecticide; encourage beneficial insects
-
Ensure good air circulation; remove affected leaves; apply sulfur dust or fungicide spray; avoid overhead watering
-
and
Hand-pick early morning or evening; use beer traps; apply copper tape barriers around base; encourage natural predators
-
Hand-pick beetles into soapy water early morning; apply neem oil; encourage beneficial parasitic wasps
Uses
Ornamental garnish
CulinaryWhile dahlias are not typically eaten, Nora Barlow flowers are visually stunning as an edible garnish for desserts and salads (ensure grown without pesticides if consuming). [source]
Cut flower arrangement
HouseholdNora Barlow's distinctive pompon blooms are highly prized by florists and gardeners for cut flower arrangements, bouquets, and floral displays. Its long vase life and unique petal structure make it excellent for both casual and formal arrangements. [source]
Dried flower craft
CraftThe layered petals of Nora Barlow dahlias retain their structure well when dried, making them suitable for dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and pressed flower crafts. [source]
Pollinator attractant
WildlifeNora Barlow dahlias attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators to the garden, supporting local ecosystems and improving pollination of nearby plants. [source]
Traditional herbal use
MedicinalDahlia species have been used in traditional Mexican medicine, and some cultures use dahlia tubers for their potential nutritional and medicinal properties, though 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
Cut flowers in early morning after dew dries for longest vase life. Use sharp, clean scissors and cut stems at a 45-degree angle. Strip lower foliage below the water line. Change water every 2-3 days; Nora Barlow blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase. For longer flowering season in the garden, deadhead spent flowers promptly.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Nora Barlow is named after a Victorian gardener and is considered an heirloom variety rediscovered from old gardens; it dates back to the 1950s and was almost lost to cultivation.
- 🌱 The unique 'quilled' or layered petal structure of Nora Barlow dahlias is caused by a genetic mutation that creates an extra layer of transformed stamens, making it a distinct double-pompon form.
- 🌱 Dahlia tubers can be divided in spring before planting to create multiple plants; each division needs at least one 'eye' or growing point to sprout successfully.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Nora Barlow Dahlia planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Nora Barlow Dahlia seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Nora Barlow Dahlia timeline →