My Favorite Dahlias: A Guide to My Curated Collections

Let’s dive into the heart of the dahlia collections available this year.  Each collection has a few of my long standing favorites plus a few of my new favorites.  

Garden Centerpiece:

Sometime you just can’t cut the flowers!  If you are saying an ‘Amen to that’ this collection is for you (and my Mama!). Each variety was curated for its unique attributes.  

Jowey Winnie - Selected for its prolific bloom and large bloom size on strong stems the Jowey Winnie dahlia is a favorite of many.  Oddly, one of my favorite points in the bloom cycle of this flower is just before it opens into its mesmerizing bloom. It has a lush bloom head that slowly raises to show a beautiful raspberry color tucked into the folds of the petals.  Once it opens, the petals continue wrapping around the stem until it is an exceptional globe.  

Who Me - Since the beginning I have said this would be a number one choice for landscaping - especially for a statement piece in the back.  The foliage is about 4 ft tall but the 6 to 8 inch blooms extend on the strongest stems to be a garden sentinel.  The blooms are white with lavender and as the flower reaches its peak bloom they get a buttery quality about them.  

Bahama Mama - There are zones in my garden where I plant different colors, shapes and textures.  I always have a section that include bright pinks, usually in a sunny location so all of the feels are upbeat.  The addition of Bahama Mama with its petals that reach out into a twist, its large blooms and tropical colors is perfect. 

Nicholas - Equally selected for its layered waterlily form and rich warm hues, the petals of this flower look as if they have been painted on as the colors transition to the center of the flower.  It is a little later to bloom (think first of September) but when other flowers begin to fade this one stands out.  Sturdy stems elevate these 5 inch peachy orange blooms. 

Thank you for reading this in depth description of the Garden Centerpiece Dahlia collection.  There are two other collections this year: 

Timeless:

These varieties have proven themselves year after year, earning themselves a permanent place on our farm.  Their color qualities will always be in demand with their romantic hues and whimsical petal shapes.  

Tables Best Friend:

Ball form dahlias last the longest after they have been cut.  Combining longevity, beautiful colors and productive makes this collection one of my favorites.   

Explore the collections further in the Dahlia Tuber Shop. Which collection are you planning to add to your flower garden on April 1st?

Lindsey

Dahlias: Tubers vs Seeds - What you need to know. Plus a planting pro-tip

Dahlias can seem a bit intimidating, right?  Especially when you hear ‘tuber’ instead of ‘seed.’  Let’s break it down, starting with why they are so different from. Your familiar zinnia.  A dahlia  tuber is similar to a potato.  If you grew up in Idaho like me, we know that in the fall, potatoes need to be harvested because they will freeze and die if left in the ground over winter (and because who doesn’t love French fries).  In some places, tubers can be left in the ground no problem but, in my zone (7b) they need some protection but typically don’t leave them in ground. With all of this, it can feel overwhelming so I will share a few thoughts.  

What is a dahlia tuber?

Above I mentioned that a tuber is like a potato and  when you purchase a tuber from the dahlia tuber shop you are essentially getting a seed potato - a little potato with lots of eyes- you know that part where the plant starts growing when you leave it too long in a pantry.  Unlike potatoes, a tuber from my dahlia tuber shop with likely only have one eye but from that single eye, a big beautiful plant will grow.  

Recently people have been asking me if the plant will only get one bloom- like a sunflower.  It is pretty much the opposite!  A dahlia is actually a cut and come again plant.  That means if you cut off the flowers it will grow a new one in its place.  Dahlias plants have different shapes and sizes but they are all bushy and can use 18 to 24 inches of space between plants.  (I plant mine closer together but that is a topic for another day).

This is a picture of the anatomy of a dahlia tuber.  

The tuber part is full of genetic information and food to make a new plant - exactly like the one it came from.  That is why when I post a picture of a flower I know it will look the same for you. 

Why Tubers and Not Seeds, For Most Gardeners

Dahlias do produce seeds but their propagation usually only piques the interest of experimenters.   Like many other seeds, dahlia seeds will produce plants but instead of an exact duplication of the genetic code, it is a combination of the varieties the pollinators have been to.  As such, you will not know what the flower looks like until it blooms!  Those who plant dahlia seeds feel like Christmas comes in August when the blooms start to appear.  Some like the thrill of seeing what was created.  Then there are breeders who plant thousands of seedlings to find one that have the qualities we all love about dahlias - uniform shape, appropriate size, productivity - bloom and flower.  To date this has intrigued me but I have not tried it.  However I own a lot of reading material on it!  Check out the ‘Dahlia Breeding’ by Kristine Albrecht or Coseytown Dahlias IG. The chance a dahlia seed will produce a plant that has all the qualities needed to use on a cut flowers farm is low and it takes several years to test this.   Since we are limited in our urban growing space, dahlias are not planted from seeds.   

Pro-tip: Planting Dahlias in Utah

Despite the dahlia originating in the mountainous regions of Central America, a lot of the information about growing dahlias originates from humid, non mountainous regions.  There are different challenges with growing in Utah but one thing we do not have a hard time with is having phosphorus in our soil.  Last year my soil test showed a phosphorus level of 82.9 my/kg which is considered ‘very high.’  This is very common in Utah so we don’t need to add bone meal when planting tubers.  I switch this out with a slow release nitrogen called nitroform from Greenway biotech (39-0-0).  

Dahlias bring so much joy to any garden. I hope this helps you understand them a little better. What are you waiting for? Grab some dahlia tubers and get out there and experience the magic yourself.

Lindsey

A few of our newest varieties on the farm

My dahlia world got whole lot more colorful last year!  Thanks to a nudge from my neighbor, 2024 was bursting with new dahlia delights.  For years, I have been spying the tops of dahlia blooms over my backyard neighbors fence. During the tours of her dahlia collection, I would soak in information about the different size and form details.  It is a different world than than focus on long lasting cut flower varieties that captured me in 2020.    When I decided to formally sell dahlia tubers, adding in the different sizes and forms was a must to share the breadth and depth of the dahlia flower family.

Here are a few varieties that caught my eye because of their color and stateliness, the feeling of joy they sparked, or they are prolific and have a long lasting bloom.  

Bahama Mama:

Bahama Mama brings the lively colors of a tropical garden to your own space.   The petals are a striking combination of bold pink tips and sunburst yellow center that uniquely twist at the end, creating a playful, tropical vibe. These blooms, about 4-5 inches across, bring a burst of joy to any garden.  This variety is an informal decorative dahlia.  

Baron Nicki: 

A single round of petals curl inward to create a flute while the cheery buttons yellow center is flanks with delicate sepals to create the effect of a star shining in the night sky.  The blooms are atop stems that reach to the heavens on a 5.5 ft tall plan.  This variety is an orchette form.  

Cailtins Joy:

The color of the cool colored dahlia is raspberry or maybe smokey purple with a peach undertone compliments it’s long lasting cut flower qualities.  The stems are long and incredibly prolific.  The foliage of this plant stands 4 ft with blooms extending up to 5. 5 feet.  This is a ball form dahlia.  

Platinum Blonde:

Platinum Blonde showcases a soft, creamy yellow center that radiates warmth. What sets this variety apart is its growth habit; the stems possess a gentle, graceful movement, offering a more relaxed feel compared to the rigid stems of many dahlias. The plant reaches a height of 4 feet.  Each bloom, an anemone form, measures approximately 4 inches across, 

Coralie:

This dahlia is a study in soft, romantic hues. Its rounded bloom is composed of tightly arranged petals in a gentle blush-pink. The color deepens subtly towards the center, creating a pleasing gradient. This dahlia's symmetrical shape and delicate color make it a visually appealing focal point in any garden setting or cut flower arrangement. It is a formal decorative form.

Don't miss out! These beauties are sure to sell out quickly when the shop opens on April 1st.

Lindsey