Dahlietta ‘Candy’ from Selecta One’s Dahlietta series is a petite dahlia dazzler that’ll sweeten your Indiana Zone 6a garden like a floral candy shop explosion! This compact hybrid thrives in full sun (6+ hours daily), though it tolerates light afternoon shade to avoid scorching—think of it as a sunbather who knows when to seek cover.
It mounds to a tidy 10-12 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide, ideal for containers, patio pots, borders, or window boxes without sprawling chaos. Blooming prolifically from late spring through fall (May to frost in Indiana), its double flowers steal the show with an intoxicating array of hues: vibrant apricot-orange petals flushed with red at the base, blending into soft coral and peach tones, accented by sunny yellow centers—like a sunset sorbet swirled with cherry ribbons and golden highlights. These bright, patterned colors shift subtly in light, offering a mesmerizing, ever-changing spectacle of warm jewel tones and pastel whispers.
For gardening enthusiasts, ‘Candy’ is a low-fuss gem: drought tolerant once established (perfect for Indiana’s variable summers), it attracts butterflies and pollinators like a nectar magnet, while deer tend to skip it. Treat as an annual in Zone 6a (or dig tubers for winter storage), planting in well-drained soil after frost danger passes. Its mounded habit and continuous blooms make it a container superstar—your neighbors might start craving sweets or wondering if you’ve turned your patio into a colorful confectionery!
