The National Dahlia Society holds shows in both the North and South Islands each year. The North Island show was held last weekend in Palmerston North.
This week the South Island show, hosted by the Dunedin Dahlia Circle and the Waikouaiti Garden Club, will be in Waikouaiti at the East Otago Events Centre tomorrow and Sunday.
Tickets for the Sunday show also include an access map to a garden tour that visits some unique spots.
Waikouaiti Garden Club President Stuart Brown said they were hoping for a plenty of of people would take the opportunity to visit the show.
More than 50 exhibitors from all over the South Island and one returning international guest, were registered as exhibitors
"They’re coming from as far north as Blenheim, to as far south as Otautau and Invercargill."
"Dahlias are very popular at the moment ... We have a dahlia enthusiast who is coming all the way from Vancouver Island."
Showing flowers was "much like a cat, dog or bird show", he said.
"It’s all about perfection. People just go wow when they see the mass of colour."
Mr Brown said producing the perfect dahlia was an "exacting thing" and many elements, including transportation of the flower, were important for success.
"With the heat we’ve had lately, they’ve got to be picked in the evening, when it’s cooler.
"... people from Blenheim, are often driving through the night as they don’t want the dahlias to get too hot or they will start collapsing,
"It’s gotta be the perfect shape, the right angle according to each flower and the stems should be straight ... the bloom has got to be perfect on the day," he said.
There will be about 12 judges for the show, split into two or three for each panel.
The Waikouaiti Garden Club has about 70 members coming from the area, who will be involved in helping to set up the show and work on the tables.
Mr Brown said some of the newer members might need encouragement to enter, and he hoped they would.
Sunday’s garden tour allowed exclusive access to five local gardens with unique vantage points.
"Some of these gardens look out over the wildlife lagoon ... if we get a beautiful day, it’s gonna be magic."
The garden tour also included the historic St John’s Church, which opened in 1858.
