Name: ‘Genova’ Dahlia
Brand: Van Noort
SKU: VAN-327-422-25
Price: 9.99 CAD
Availability: InStock

Sale Sold out

Upright Genova dahlia clump approximately 80 cm tall with dark stems and dark green foliage

Dormant tuber Asteraceae

Colour-changing white and purple Ball dahlia

Van Noort

From bulb to bloom

Common nameGenova Ball dahlia

FamilyAsteraceae

GenusDahlia

SpeciesHorticultural hybrid

CultivarGenova

Bulb typeTubercule de dahlia

Botanical nameDahlia

Quantity per pack1 No1 tuber

Bulb sizeNo 1

‘Genova’ Dahlia (Dahlia × hortensis) ‘Genova’ produces compact fully double Ball flowers built from orderly rows of inrolled petals. Young blooms open white with purple tips, then the proportion of purple gradually increases as they mature. This evolution displays several shades simultaneously on one clump. Each No. 1 tuber produces an upright plant approximately 80 cm tall and 50 cm wide, with dark stems and dark green foliage according to the RHS. From midsummer until the first frost, this new Van Noort selection suits borders, containers, and cutting gardens. Its changing colour and precise geometric flower form provide distinctive structure in planting schemes and fresh arrangements.

Plant the tuber in spring after the final frost when soil has warmed. Lay it horizontally 10 cm deep with its bud facing upward in fertile, humus-rich soil that stays fresh yet drains perfectly. Choose full sun and leave 50 cm around the crown. Install discreet support at planting, especially in an exposed position. Water sparingly before emergence, then deeply at the base whenever the surface dries. Pinch the shoot at 20 or 30 cm to branch the clump. Add compost and apply fertilizer richer in potassium with moderation from bud formation, avoiding excess nitrogen. Keep foliage dry while watering and maintain open airflow.

Place ‘Genova’ near the front or middle of a border where flowers can be watched changing from purple-tipped white to a richer purple. Pair it with white gauras, blue salvias, purple verbenas, silver artemisias, and bronze grasses. Firm rounded blooms are particularly useful in arrangements; harvest them fully open early in the morning and remove faded heads to renew buds. Highly double flowers are mainly ornamental, so add simple open blooms for pollinators. In Canada, after the first frost, lift the tuber, let its surface dry, and store it somewhere cool, dry, dark, and frost-free until spring.

Light and life cycle

In the garden

Exposure: Full sun
Life cycle: Tender perennial grown as an annual in cold climates
Hardiness: Zone 8; lift the tuber in colder regions

Planting and establishment

Planting guide

Planting & establishment

Planting depth

10 cm

Spacing / density

50 cm (20 in.) between plants

Establishment temperature

Sol réchauffé, autour de 16 °C ou plus

Planting period

Printemps, après les derniers gels

Propagation

Division of a tuber carrying a viable bud

Growing method

Planter le tubercule au printemps, après les derniers gels, en plein soleil dans un sol fertile et bien drainé. Déterrer à l’automne et conserver hors gel.

Soil and care

Soil & care

Soil pH

Slightly acidic to neutral

Moisture

Maintain even soil moisture without saturation during active growth. Large double flowers become heavy after rain; good air circulation, 50 cm spacing, and support reduce breakage and slow drying. Never let thick mulch touch the crown. During storage, keep a cool dry atmosphere that prevents both extreme shrivelling and rot.

Minimum temperature

5 °C (41 °F)

Care level

Moderate

Watering

Arrosez au pied lorsque le sol sèche en surface, sans détremper la terre.

Soil type

Fertile, humifère et bien drainé

Fertilization

Incorporate mature compost before planting. From active growth, use balanced fertilizer low to moderate in nitrogen, then favour a potassium-richer formula as buds form. Follow labelled rates and water afterward. Excess nitrogen produces soft stems, abundant leaves, and fewer flowers. Stop feeding several weeks before autumn lifting.

Seasonal care

In spring, inspect the tuber, prepare soil, plant after frost, and install support before stems become fragile. Pinch young shoots to branch the clump. In summer, water deeply, tie with soft material, feed moderately, and remove faded flowers regularly. Harvest stems early in the morning using clean tools. Monitor slugs, aphids, earwigs, spider mites, and mould without needlessly treating neighbouring flowers. In autumn, wait until frost blackens foliage, cut stems to 10 or 25 cm, lift the tuber without injury, and let its surface dry. Label Genova clearly. In winter, store it somewhere cool, dry, dark, and frost-free. Inspect monthly, remove soft tissue, and prevent both condensation and complete desiccation. The upright clump reaches about one metre and benefits from discreet staking in windy places. Full sun and fertile humus-rich fresh drained soil support sturdy stems. Feeding moderate in nitrogen and richer in potassium accompanies bud formation. Pinching branches young shoots and removing faded flowerheads extends flowering. In colder Canadian regions, the tuber must be lifted after frost and stored somewhere cool and frost-free. Double flowers suit arrangements and borders but provide little food for pollinators. Water deeply at the base when the surface dries without saturating the crown.

Growing in containers

Container growing

Recommended pot size

at least 45 cm (18 in.) in diameter and depth

Use a stable container at least 45 cm wide and deep with numerous holes. Fill it with rich potting mix amended with compost and drainage material. Set one tuber 10 cm below the surface and immediately install a central stake or discreet cage. Keep the pot in full sun protected from strong wind. Water deeply whenever the upper centimetres dry and always empty the saucer. Feed moderately during growth, then emphasize potassium from bud formation. Pinch young shoots and remove faded flowers. Rotate the container regularly for balanced growth. After the first frost, cut stems, let the mix dry slightly, and remove the tuber for cool dry frost-free storage until spring. The upright clump reaches about one metre and benefits from discreet staking in windy places. Full sun and fertile humus-rich fresh drained soil support sturdy stems. Feeding moderate in nitrogen and richer in potassium accompanies bud formation. Pinching branches young shoots and removing faded flowerheads extends flowering. In colder Canadian regions, the tuber must be lifted after frost and stored somewhere cool and frost-free.

Growth and flowering

Size, flowering & harvest

Mature height

70 à 80 cm

Width / spread

Environ 50 cm

Flower color

White with purple tips, becoming more purple

Foliage color

Green

Foliage type

Deciduous after frost

Growth rate

Fast

Growth habit

Tall upright clump

Fragrance

Aucun parfum notable.

Bloom period

Rounded, fully double Ball flowers open white with purple tips and become more purple as they age. They appear from midsummer until frost above dark stems and green foliage. Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage further blooms.

Harvest

July to October. Cut fully open flowers for the best vase life.

Garden companions

Garden associations

Companion plants & uses

Companion plants

Pair Genova with blue salvias, purple verbenas, white gauras, chocolate cosmos, sweet alyssum, and bronze grasses sharing sun and drained soil. Airy silhouettes and simple flowers highlight Ball flowerheads while providing insects with more accessible resources. Keep 50 cm around the tuber and avoid highly aggressive roots or plants requiring constantly dry ground. This attention preserves vigour and the quality of its large white with purple tips, becoming more purple flowers.

Other recommended plants

Cosmos blancs, sauges et graminées fines adaptées au soleil.

Garden use

Place Genova in the middle of a sunny border before bronze grasses and behind lower plants. Install support at planting so it disappears within foliage. Nearby, use blue salvias, purple verbenas, white gauras, chocolate cosmos, and sweet alyssum whose simple forms contrast with highly double blooms. Repeat several white with purple tips, becoming more purple or cream tones farther through the bed to connect the scene without making it heavy. In a cutting garden, leave enough access to harvest stems without breaking neighbours. Pinch the clump early to obtain several flowering branches. Open-flowered plants provide pollen and nectar because Genova remains mainly ornamental. In autumn, lift the tuber before deep soil freezing and label it clearly so the same palette can be rebuilt the following spring. The upright clump reaches about one metre and benefits from discreet staking in windy places. Full sun and fertile humus-rich fresh drained soil support sturdy stems. Feeding moderate in nitrogen and richer in potassium accompanies bud formation. Pinching branches young shoots and removing faded flowerheads extends flowering.

Frequently asked questions

When should Genova dahlia be planted?

Plant Genova in spring after the final frost when soil has warmed and no longer remains saturated. Lay the tuber horizontally 10 cm deep with its bud upward, keeping 50 cm clear around the crown. In cold regions, starting it indoors in a pot four to six weeks earlier advances growth, but acclimate the plant gradually before moving it outside. Water very sparingly before emergence to prevent rot, then increase moisture as shoots and roots become active. Install discreet support at planting when the site receives strong wind. This careful practice supports consistent flowering and strong healthy stems throughout summer.

Why do the flowers change colour?

The change is a normal Genova characteristic. Flowers open white with purple tips, then petals gain more purple as they age. Several stages therefore share the plant, creating a natural gradient without indicating a cultural problem. Light, temperature, and opening stage may slightly alter the intensity observed. To highlight this evolution, place the clump beside a path and harvest flowers of different ages for one arrangement. Full sun and balanced feeding encourage strong stems and clear colouring through the productive summer flowering season. This careful practice supports consistent flowering and strong healthy stems throughout summer.

Is Genova suitable for arrangements?

Yes. Its firm rounded fully double flowers bring geometric form to arrangements and combine readily with airy blooms. Cut stems early in the morning when flowerheads are fully open because dahlias develop little after harvest. Use a clean tool, remove leaves that would sit in water, and immediately place stems in a cool bucket. Refresh vase water and recut ends regularly. Frequent harvesting combined with removing faded flowerheads prevents seed formation and encourages the plant to produce new buds until frost. This careful practice supports consistent flowering and strong healthy stems throughout summer.

Can Genova be grown in a container?

Yes, its approximately 80 cm height suits a stable container at least 40 to 45 cm wide and deep with large drainage holes. Fill it with fertile airy mix, plant the tuber 10 cm deep, and install discreet support. Keep the pot in full sun, water deeply when the upper few centimetres dry, and always empty its saucer. Feed moderately, pinch the shoot, and remove faded flowers. Rotate the container for balanced growth. After frost, remove the tuber and store it somewhere cool, dry, dark, and frost-free. This careful practice supports consistent flowering and strong healthy stems throughout summer.

How should Genova be overwintered in Canada?

After the first frost blackens foliage, cut stems to 10 or 15 cm. Lift widely around the crown with a fork to avoid injuring tuberous roots, gently remove loose soil, and let the surface dry in a sheltered place. Store the labelled tuber in lightly insulating material somewhere cool, dry, dark, and frost-free. Inspect it monthly, remove any soft section with a clean tool, and increase ventilation if condensation appears. Replant only after frost risk has passed and the soil has warmed. This careful practice supports consistent flowering and strong healthy stems throughout summer.

Wildlife and pets

Wildlife & precautions

Reported toxicity

Yes

Supporting wildlife

Highly double flowers hide almost all of their disc and offer little accessible pollen or nectar. Their value is mainly ornamental. Support wildlife by pairing this dahlia with salvias, sweet alyssum, verbenas, and other simple flowers. Avoid insecticides, provide shallow clean water, and maintain several flowering periods in the border.