Blue Bayou Anemone Dahlia

There's no stopping the perpetual blooms of this flirty dahlia! In constant flower from mid summer till frost, 'Blue Bayou' produces dozens of 4-inch-wide blooms on deer-resistant foliage. Plants are easily kept to a shorter stature by pinching out the growing points early in the season. Butterflies and bees adore 'Blue Bayou'. Plus, the blooms also make exceptional cut flowers. Anemone dahlias prefer full-sun conditions and average garden soil that's both well draining and mildly acidic. If voles and mice have feasted on your dahlia tubers in the past, surround them with an inch-thick layer of crushed oyster shells at planting time to deter any nibbling rodents, or grow your dahlias in containers.

Dahlias are perennial in zones 8-10, but in cooler zones, tubers can be dug after frost comes, stored over winter, then re-planted the following spring. Keep moisture consistent once it begins to grow and enjoy a non-stop color parade. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers and pinch off small side buds to encourage larger flowers if desired.