I have a compact variety of dahlia--it gets about 1 foot high and the flowers are about 1-2" across. Can someone tell me why, so many times, the flowers seem to be hidden under the foliage? Does it have anything to do with the clump needing to be divided, do you think? Thanks for your help, dahlia growers!!!

I have bought some of those short bushy plants and found that the seller pumps it so full of fertilizer that the foliage goes nuts and buries the flowers. Not sure that is what is going on with yours. I just keep cutting back the foliage so the flowers have a chance.

Yes, that seems to happen with some dahlias. For example, Dahlia 'Firepot' always blooms close or under the foliage.

I do not think it has anything to do with dividing the clump.

Some dahlias have nice long stems that are good for cutting, others do not. Seems like many of the dwarf dahlias are in the "others do not" group.