I have the best tuber tip ever. That'll be at the end of the post because the start of it is dedicated to the dahlia varieties I'm growing this year. Not a gardener? No problem. I'm sure you like pretty and there's a lot of that in today's post too.
Coincidentally this variety, Colleen Mooney was also bred by a member of my dahlia society, and then went on to win the highest honours from the American Dahlia Society.
A lot of dahlias are bred and introduced into the world by amateur growers who devote years to their perfect bloom.
Table of Contents
How Dahlias Varieties are "made"
Dahlias are generally grown by tubers. You buy the tuber, plant it and it flowers.
Those dahlia flowers produce anywhere from 1-50 seeds but people don't usually plant these seeds because each dahlia seed comes with its own DNA and it's own characteristics.
You can save these seeds and plant them but they will be nothing like the dahlia they came from and every seed will produce a different looking flower. So to produce an award winning or even just really pretty dahlia is a game of chance.
If you plant 50 dahlia seeds, you might end up with 1 that grows into a plant with a flower that is worth keeping. Maybe not even 1. Or sometimes 5. It's a crap shoot.
Anyone who breeds dahlias has gone through a long process to get to the point of being able to send the stable variety out into the world.
I'm doing it
For the first year, I'm going to try my luck with planting dahlia seeds. I've planted "Petite Floret" seeds from the Floret collection which have been selected to a certain degree to have somewhat predictable results.
I've only grown 6 seedlings, all of which I'll pot up this weekend, and will plant in my community garden at the end of May.
Last year I finally got serious about making sure my English cottage garden was watered so none of my dahlias died of thirst, however some died at the mouth of slugs and rabbits.
This year I will ABSOLUTELY remember to protect every single dahlia outside from slugs and rabbits.
The 2024 Varieties
1. AC Paint
Last year AC Paint was the variety I was most excited about growing so of course it's the variety of tuber that dried up in storage on me. I've bought another tuber and will plant it again this year.
AC Paint was the most fun dahlia I think I've ever grown because it is unpredictable. It can look like the photo on the left, and the very same stem can grow a flower that looks like one on the right. Or it might be almost all white.
2. A La Mode
These aren't perfect examples of the dahlia A La Mode but even imperfect they're beautiful. I've never had a tuber produce SO many eye filled tubers.
3. Alpen Cherub
A dainty little compact collarette dahlia with a yellow open centre. I saved 6 tubers from my one plant last year and am thinking this one might be going into pots this year.
What with my new pot obsession.
4. Cornel Bronze
An incredibly reliable and stable variety that always looks great. It's an orange, but it's garish orange.
5. Rock Star
The comparisons to Mick Jagger are obvious. Although it does have a little Lenny Kravitz or Brandon Flowers flamboyance in there as well.
Rock Star really is the Mick Jagger of the dahlias.
6. Jess Lyn
This is a miniature formal decorative dahlia that was bred in Canada and I can't understand why it isn't more popular. It's classified as an orange, but is more of a peach.
7. Black Satin
A really reliable dark, formal decorative that goes perfectly with chocolate cosmos.
8. Colleen Mooney
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Technically you're supposed to photograph a dahlia from the front to show off its face, curves and head tilt (actually) but Colleen Mooney doesn't have a bad angle.
9. Cafe Au Lait
Cafe Au Lait is a favourite for a lot of growers and I usually have tons of tubers from it but this year I have none. So my planting it will depend on if I can find one in the next few days.
10. Yvonne
Yvonne was the first dahlia I grew. A waterlily form that is a bit persnickety. It has beautiful flowers (which you can see look nice with Colleen Mooney behind) but the plants aren't very vigorous, the tubers don't store particularly well and it's a favourite fast food restaurant for earwigs.
But every year - I try my best.
* New this year *
11. Smokey Amethyst
I wish I knew more about this one, but I guess I'll have more to tell you in August when they bloom.
Smokey Amethyst caught my eye when I was going through the Hamilton Dahlia Society tubers for sale so I bought a tuber. When I looked it up, I couldn't find any photos of it other than this stock photo.
I don't even know if it's going to look like one of these flowers, or both or a combination of the two.
I do like a surprise. And I love the muddy colouring of the lavender one.
How a Dahlia is Bred
Below is a description of how a new dahlia is bred and registered.
12. Fundy Esther (Introduction)
2024 is the first year this flower has been sold/introduced.
Fundy Esther, an orchette form dahlia, also happens to be the charming result of Mike Parrish's breeding. Mike is the president of the Hamilton Dahlia Society and I got my first look at this dahlia a few years ago in his home garden.
He's been growing dahlias for 20 years and collecting seed for about 10; planting 100-200 seedlings every year waiting and hoping for a dahlia miracle.
The chance of growing a new and beautiful dahlia variety like this way is less than 1%.
If you think you've grown a beauty then you have to grow it for 3 years to make sure it's stable and looks the same all those years. Then you can have your dahlia officially introduced and included in The American Dahlia Society if they grade your dahlia at least 85%. Esther Fundy scored 90%.
The flower needs to be beautiful, unique, have excellent form and produce multiple, healthy tubers that store well with an adequate amount of eyes.
When he started this dahlia journey, Mike knew his first introduction would be named after his mother Esther. The name's prefix, Fundy, comes from his home province
The next time I got to see Mike's flower was in 2022 at The Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Show when he showed it himself (before it had been introduced to the world) at The Royal Botanical Gardens.
I know. It's pretty great.
I'll definitely keep you posted on how this one grows.
13 & 14. Apple Blossom & Kelsey Annie Joy
Apple Blossom is a popular variety that people love. It's not my favourite because I feel like it looks a bit ragged, but I've never grown it myself. I wanted a similar variety, April Heather, but I couldn't find, so I ended up with Apple Blossom.
To make up for that fact I bought another similar collarette called Kelsey Annie Joy.
My Greatest Dahlia Tip
Every year I go through my tubers and ditch the ones I know aren't worth trying to coax life out of.
Every year some of them prove me wrong.
If you aren't 100% confident in your ability to idenfify viable tubers ...
- Don't throw out any tubers. When you bring them out of storage and go through them, throw discards into a bucket and don't think about them again.
- A few weeks later check the bucket.
I went through my discard bucket last week and came up with 7 tubers that were sprouting.
Both of these will probably be grown in pots if I can blood-let enough money to afford 2 containers.
Did you know large planters cost about $200 each? Because they do. And large clay pots are almost impossible to find anywhere because the universe thinks it can stop me from branching out into growing in pots.
The universe doesn't know I'm tenacious and have no qualms about rooting through people's garbage. And maybe sheds. But we're not there yet.
Cherie
I, too, love dahlias and I am now hoping that the ones I saved last fall will sprout but just in case they don't and I am needing more I just bought quite a few from Vesey's and even a few from a local nursery. Most will go into pots because we hope to move into a smaller house and property next spring (2026). 4000sq ft of gardening, a greenhouse, a few dozen pots, and some other garden beds are a bit much for this octogenarian. It was so lovely to see all your pretty photographs on this dreary We[s]t Coast day. Thank you.
Karen
Hi Cherie! That's a bit much for a teenager. You must have quite the amount of energy. I'm considering a greenhouse myself! But I'm actually worried I'd rather just have the space for vegetable beds. I do *not* have 4000sq ft of space. ;) ~ karen!
Cherie
Hi Karen Yup, it is a bit much and while I am fortunate to still have the amount of energy I do at 81 (YIKES!), we are going to downsize. There is no way that I was ever capable of doing all that YOU do. Sometimes when I read your posts, I wonder whether you ever sleep. You must be one of the most accomplished people on this planet.
Kim Lee
As far as I know the 'Smokey Amethyst' was a package of 3 dahlia tubers which included Creme de Cassis and Edinburgh. I bought this package last year. You didn't know which was which...just wait & see. I wasn't very impressed with the results and I don't believe there is a dahlia called Smokey Amethyst.
Karen
Thank you! I could NOT make sense of it even after searching and searching. Well that's especially good to hear since that particular tuber was eaten almost clean a few days after I planted it. ~ karen!
Kim Lee
The Creme de Cassis is very tasty to slugs and earwigs; small plant and not particularly well formed flowers. It may still grow if the tuber is still viable. It will just take more time. I didn't find any of the tubers in this package gave nice flowers, though. Our Dahlia Society doesn't permit unnamed dahlias. Good luck and happy growing!
Beth P
Considered making your own large pots from hypertufa
Beth P
And you can use coir fiber instead of peat to be more sustainable
Joanne
I purchased a packet of Floret dahlia seeds. Out of 15 seeds 3 have germinated after 6 or 7 weeks. And for a cost of $43 Cdn. And I have no trouble getting Himalayan blue poppy or lisianthus seeds to germinate!
Karen
Hi Joanne! Himalayan blue poppies are no joke. They're hard! I'm not sure what happened because I started the dahlia seeds as well. I started just 6 and they all germinated within a few days and grew well. Usually when there's a germination issue for me it's either old seed, over watering or under watering. I'm not sure what happened with yours but that's so disappointing. ~ karen!
Norma
Someone who can build a pizza oven in their backyard should surely be able to build a kiln in which to fire huge dahlia pots of infinite numbers for a smaller price than purchasing them at the pot store!
Randy P
As a non-garde neing near-Neanderthal the nbest I can come up with is "Them iz purty flahrs". I hope that sentiment suffices.
Karen
It's their favourite compliment. ~ karen!
Mark
Why Why Why Dahlia
Michelle Huber
This is my first year of planting dahlia tubers. I was inspired by your dahlia posts. So excited to see what will sprout! I had a couple of tubers that were suspect, but decided to plant them away. So, I took your advice before you sent your tip! Great minds think alike. 😁
Mike
Many thanks for the highlight of Fundy Esther! So happy that you're able to grow and enjoy it this year! You have lots of beauties to enjoy!
Mike
Jody
Mike I have so enjoyed watching your journey with Fundy Esther. Your mom must be so proud of you--especially on Mothers' Day!
Mike
Thanks so much Jody! It’s truly been a dream come true. There’s so many facets of growing dahlias that people can enjoy, and hybridizing new varieties is something that I’ve enjoyed! The quest to create something new is a continual challenge!
Karen
I'm really excited to grow her! Deciding between in the front yard or in a large pot in the back. ~ karen!
Mike
Looking forward to hearing updates throughout the growing season!
Marcia
If I ever divorce my husband and get married again, I will carry a bouquet of dahlias. They're breathtaking! Can't wait to see yours! I also got pretty excited about the chocolate cosmo until I figured out you meant the cosmo flower, not the cosmo cocktail. Oh well...
Nan Aitel-Thompson
You got me started on Dahlias and now I'm addicted. Thank you! Tried to grow 3 new short ones by the vegetables, but didn
t plant them deep enough and the squirrels (tree rats) dug them up - only one survived. Dried blood on top stopped them from digging them up but it was probably too late. I've got 12 tall ones on the other side, crocheted a rope to help the metal supports and wooden stakes hold them up. Didn't dig any up, and so far 9 are up, but we had a warm winter and they are by the house. 7a
Karen
I bet if I'd left them in the ground they would have survived because we had such a mild winter in 6b. ~ karen!
Chris W.
Dahlias are hands down my favorite flower and these are just luscious! My father was the gardener in our family and had a tons of dahlias in the garden every year. Unfortunately, our property has mostly shade or I would have so many of these beauties...I even like their foliage in an arrangement. Best wishes for your growing of the difficult ones. Please keep us updated as posts of dahlias just make me happy!!!
Karen
You could try growing a couple in pots if you have sun anywhere at all. ~ karen!
Mike
Stunningly beautiful! And big-time smile worthy!
Karen
I can't wait to see how they all do. ~ karen!