In their continuing virus research, the American Dahlia Society estimates that 87% of outwardly healthy dahlias grown in the US contain a dormant virus. What does that mean for us as dahlia enthusiasts? It means that even if you are growing just a handful of dahlias, it is darn near impossible that you have a virus free garden. On the up side, these plants are resilient, and are still growing big and beautiful and providing us with armfuls of gorgeous blooms. As people, the better care we take of ourselves, the less likely we are to be affected by the germs we encounter. The same holds true for dahlias. Taking care to nourish plants is the best way to make a happy, healthy garden. Unless tested in the laboratory, it is impossible to know if virus-like symptoms such as curling leaves, stunted growth, and leaf discoloration are simply an indication of outside factors such as nutrient deficiency and other variables.

In our garden, plants are inspected regularly, and removed when their performance indicates they are not thriving. We are inspected yearly by the Department of Agriculture to ensure that we are running an operation that is as healthy as possible.

During the season, following ADS recommendations, tools are cleaned between each plant as we cut bouquets and deadhead. We sanitize between each clump as we divide tubers in the fall. In short, we make our best effort to provide healthy tubers for you to enjoy in your garden. With that being said, we cannot guarantee that there is not a dormant virus inside tubers. By purchasing our tubers, buyers acknowledge that they do so at their own risk, after having been notified of, and understanding this information.