Discover the best ball dahlias

What are Ball Dahlias?

The flowers of Ball Dahlias are instantly recognisable: they resemble large, round balls! Very full, they exhibit an alveolate structure similar to a honeycomb. This is a horticultural category, part of the decorative flower group defined by the shape of the flower. In this category, we also find Pompon Dahlias (‘Fatima’), which have a smaller head diameter, less than 6 cm.

The numerous rows of tubular ligulate petals in the head are arranged with exemplary regularity to form a spherical inflorescence. These petals are completely rolled in on themselves. The inflorescences measure between 6 and 12 cm in diameter for the largest. The flowering of these dahlias is of an incredible richness of colour: the flowers come in an endless palette of shades ranging from lilac pink (Dahlia ‘El Paso’) to purplish pink, from lemon yellow (Dahlia ‘Joey Martina’) to wine red (Dahlia ‘Downham Royal’) or crimson red, from mandarin to salmon orange (‘Cornel Bronz).

They are sometimes bicoloured with a contrasting centre and tips, as seen in Dahlia ‘Double Jill’, or even multicoloured (Dahlia ‘Hollyhill Calico’), or in subtle shades (Dahlia ‘Burlesca’).

This category of dahlias is also generous! Flowering begins in July and continues until October-November, provided that faded flowers are removed or bouquets are regularly made. As with other dahlias, pinching out allows for larger flowers: remove some flower buds as they appear.

Among Ball Dahlias, there are tall forms and intermediate varieties that are slightly shorter. The stems can grow from 60 cm up to 1.20 m in height.

White Ball Dahlia ‘Polar Ice’, Bicoloured Ball Dahlia ‘Hollyhill Calico’, Salmon Ball Dahlia ‘Cornel Bronz’, and below, Ball Dahlia ‘Dark Spirit’

To structure a flower bed

At the back of the border

In the middle of the border

Dahlia Hapet Daydream

A vibrant colour in a gradient of fuchsia pink. It forms bushy clumps supported by long purple stems, stunning at the back of the border!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Dahlia Sylvia

Its delicious mandarin orange colour enlivens borders throughout the summer season into autumn. Captivating at the back of summer annuals!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Dahlia Boy Scout

With its lilac pink pom-poms, it is ideal for adding a romantic touch to a large summer border.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Dahlia Jowey Linda

A flamboyant ball dahlia with orange flowers with salmon reflections, reaching heights of 1.20 m.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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Dahlia Jowey Mirella

With its graceful purple pom-poms, this variety enlivens a dormant border.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1,10 m

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Dahlia Copper Boy

A new dahlia with a rare, somewhat indefinable colour, exclusive to us. In borders, this glorious dahlia will create very colourful patches late into the season.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Dahlia Ivanetti

At the heart of a summer border, this Dahlia will create warm, bright patches.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Dahlia Downham Royal

Simply stunning! With its rich colour, this dahlia will look superb in borders alongside pink and/or purple flowers.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Dahlia Jowey Provence

This new Dahlia offers bicoloured round flowers that will add a lot of originality when placed at the centre of a summer annual composition.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Dahlia Maroon Fox

A variety of mini ball dahlia with dark red flowers!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 85 cm

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Dahlia American Sunset

A 'ball' dahlia that is still relatively rare! Of medium stature, it blooms abundantly from summer to frost and remains impeccable in borders.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

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To flower a border bed

Measuring around 60-70 cm in height, some Ball Dahlias form medium-sized, compact bushes, perfect when grouped in threes or fives along the edge of a flowerbed. They provide continuous flowering from July until the frost, showcasing a variety of vibrant colours and opulent shapes. They do not require staking and withstand bad weather and wind without flinching.

With their strong character, a few Dahlia plants are enough to add depth and powerful accents to a flowerbed. When mixed with varieties of small dahlias (Dwarf Cactus Dahlia, ‘Happy Single’) and small grasses like Hordeum jubatum or Foxtail Barley, they will bring both colour and lightness.

Compact and Floriferous

Dahlia Snow Cap

A lovely variety perfect for creating an airy border with grasses!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 60 cm

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Dahlia Purple Fox

A very colourful Pompon dahlia variety that will enhance the front of a flowerbed.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 70 cm

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To make cut flower arrangements

All round up to 12 cm in diameter, supported by long stems, with excellent vase life, all the pompom flowers of Ball Dahlias are ideal for enhancing large, opulent, and colourful bouquets from summer until late in the season. They make excellent cut flowers and blend well with all sorts of flowers and foliage. Their spherical flowers showcase pastel colours ranging from very pale pink to scarlet red and tricolour. The soft pink-mauve ‘Wizard Of Oz’ or light pink Dahlia ‘Genova’, ‘Jowey Winnie’ will be delightful in refined and romantic compositions paired with lilies, Asters, or rose buds, while ‘Bantling’ and ‘Jescot Lingold’ will allow for more explosive and warm mixes with Gladioli, and orange Echinaceas. All will be softened by the foliage of eucalyptus, ferns, Artemisia arborescens ‘Little Mice’, or fennels, for example.

Their highly graphic inflorescences also stand alone in round, uniflorous bouquets.

Impeccable hold!

Dahlia Peter

This variety is appreciated for creating bouquets full of cheer and freshness.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 1,10 m

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Dahlia Pink Pearl

Delicate pompons perfect for romantic bouquets!

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Dahlia Rocco

Its pink-purple flowers with a more mauve centre are very beautiful in bouquets.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 85 cm

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Dahlia Brown Sugar

Its flowers display a truly vibrant colour and will be magnificent in bouquets!

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Dahlia Polventum Supreme

A variety of dahlia that will charm with its pastel yellow pompom flowers. They look wonderful in a vase with white or blue flowers.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Our favourite varieties

Dahlia ball flowers come in an infinite array of shades and sizes. Since it’s not always easy to choose from the nearly 40 varieties, some of which are exclusive, that we offer, here’s a small selection of our favourite dahlias. Feel free to mix dahlias together and draw from our beautiful collection; you’ll have flowers for the entire summer.

Dahlia Wizard Of Oz

This dahlia offers perfectly round flowers in a soft mauve-pink. Perfect flowers for bouquets as well as for the background of borders.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 80 cm

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Dahlia Cornel

A reliable choice for structuring tall borders.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 1,10 m

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Dahlia Hillcrest Suffusion

A charming variety with very subtle and indulgent colour nuances! Magnificent for gently warming sunny borders.

• Flowering time August to November
• Height at maturity 1 m

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Dahlia Marble Ball

This variety with truly unique colours adds another dimension to homemade bouquets, as well as to perennial or light annual borders.

• Flowering time August to December
• Height at maturity 90 cm

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Dahlia Dark Spirit

A rich and deep mahogany colour. Use it to flower the back of your borders, as well as in your flower bouquets.

• Flowering time July to November
• Height at maturity 1,20 m

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For further reading

• Looking for a bit more inspiration? Discover our advice sheet: “Dahlias, how to pair them well in the garden”
• The most beautiful collection of dahlias is with us; Our new gladiolus and dahlias for spring 2022
• All the new dahlias are on our site!
• Indigo violet, mahogany or pale pink, with Sophie, discover the full range of dahlia colours on our blog
• Don’t miss the planting of your dahlias, follow our tips!