Dahlia bulbs produce elegant and diverse flowers ranging from the size of a dinner plate to a delicate small bloom. In recent years Dahlia plants have become increasingly popular due to their ease of growth, diverse blooms, and stunning colors. Although Dahlia bulbs have recently enjoyed popularity, they have historically been a staple flower in gardens worldwide. Dahlias in Mexico, Central, and South America, were feasted on for their sweet, calorie-rich tubers. Their tubers, eaten much like potatoes, were a part of many diets. Dahlia bulbs include tubers and a stem from which the "eyes" of a Dahlia plant will form. Dahlias are easy to plant and grow in containers or in the ground. Like potatoes, Dahlias have tubers that store energy and help to sprout and sustain the plant we see growing above ground. Dahlias are frost-sensitive—plant Dahlia bulbs after the threat of frost. You can plant Dahlia bulbs in late winter or early spring in Zones 9 and 10, but they will grow little during cold spells. In other parts of the United States, Dahlias bulbs can be sprouted indoors and planted outside when the soil has warmed. For the best blooming Dahlias, pinch back top growth to encourage branching and stake plants so that top-heavy blooms do now topple plants. Dahlias flowers include a wide range of types. Growers can enjoy large "dinnerplate" blooms, pompom blooms, cactus blooms, and anemone blooms. All categories have a particular shape and bloom type. No matter what flower you choose, your garden will burst with color, pollinators, and beauty from these easy-to-plant bulbs.