How to choose dahlias well

A choice of pruning

Today, nearly 20,000 horticultural varieties are found all over the world. Dahlias are classified according to the size, shape, and diameter of their flowers, ranging from giants to miniatures.

XXL Flowers or Mini Pompons?

Dahlia flowers are classified by the size of their inflorescences, from giant to miniature.

• Giant, over 25 cm in diameter: the flowers of Giant Dahlias are as large as a plate! They are perfect for brightening up a corner of the vegetable garden or creating generous bouquets. However, they require a bit of maintenance during flowering: they need to be staked to prevent them from drooping under the weight of the flowers, and faded inflorescences should be removed to encourage the appearance of new ones and extend the flowering period.
• Large, 20 to 25 cm in diameter: This group includes Ball or Ball Dahlias and Cactus Dahlias. The latter, with their large, very double, and full rounded flowers, are widely used in the background of flower beds to create an interesting focal point. Ball Dahlias, with their particularly graphic spherical flowers, are highly sought after for creating perfectly round bouquets and enlivening flower beds late into the season.
• Small, 10 to 15 cm in diameter: Certainly among the most contrasting! They add a lot of originality to the garden. This group includes Anemone Flower Dahlias, characterised by large flowers with flattened petals contrasting with a very double heart of frilled petals. They offer an unprecedented palette of colours (‘Blue Bayou’). In Collarette Dahlias, the crown is often a different colour, sometimes very contrasting.
• Miniatures, less than 10 cm in diameter: Here we find the flowers of Pompon Dahlias (‘Icoon’), which are the miniature version of Ball Dahlias. With their perfectly round mini flowers, they form generous, highly floriferous bushes at the edge of flower beds and create attractive colourful bouquets to pair with various varieties.

Dwarfs or giants?

In the large family of dahlias, two types are distinguished: dwarf dahlias, perfect for small borders, pots, and planters, and tall dahlias for borders, mixed-borders, and cut flowers.

The Dwarf Dahlias: stars of borders and pots

• Simple dwarf dahlias: 40 to 80 cm tall, their flowers are single. Among them are the lovely ‘Happy Single’ in vibrant colours.
• Double dwarf dahlias: 30 to 40 cm tall, they bear solid-coloured or variegated flowers with two rows of petals. Among this family are the opulent and colourful forms of ‘Gallery’ Dahlias.
• Dwarf cactus dahlias: 50 to 60 cm tall, they form compact bushes and offer an abundance of large flowers with elongated petals in a wide range of colours.
• Dwarf dahlias with a collar: rarely exceeding 60 cm, with their compact habit and flowers adorned with a lovely collar, they are radiant in the foreground of a border or as edging and sensational in pots on a sunny terrace or balcony.
• Dwarf dahlias with anemone-like flowers: a low variety not exceeding 40 cm at ripeness, covered with small flowers with wide, flat petals and a frilled centre.

→ To read: 5 Dahlias for border planting

Gaining height and structuring borders with:

• The Cactus Dahlias: their stems can reach up to 1.20 m high with flowers featuring long, narrow ribbon-like petals in various colours.
• The Decorative Dahlias: perfect for flowering large borders with their impressive height of up to 1.20 m. Magnificent in bouquets!
• The Pompon and Ball Dahlias: Their ball-shaped flowers are very graphic and are borne on stems that can exceed one metre in height.

Dahlia ‘Burlesca’ – Happy Single ‘Wink’

The most astonishing

The largest flower

Dahlia Lady Liberty

Its flowers exceed 20 cm.

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

See the product sheet

Dahlia Encore

Its heads of about 25 cm are among the largest.

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

See the product sheet

The most original

Dahlia Blue Wish

A brand new variety that comes even closer to pure blue.

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

See the product sheet

Colourful-leaved Dahlias

• The Bishop landscape Dahlias collection with their single forms and stunning bronze-copper foliage.
• The Happy Single Dahlias with their magnificent very dark, finely cut purple foliage.

Dahlia Bishop of Lancaster