SIX GREAT CUT FLOWER DAHLIAS TO GROW

‘Maarn’ is a mid-sized melon colored dahlia, which I might admit is my current favorite. It is a popular cut flower grown by flower farms such as Floret Farm in Washington state, but why not grow your own next year? Many Dahlia catalogs on line carry this variety. Look for it next spring.

1. Maarn

Here is what I discovered: Most dahlia catalogs will list out the best varieties for cutting, flower arranging or for weddings. If in doubt, just ask them – better yet, do some research yourself – see what varieties the hip flower farms are growing, many list their varieties which is so helpful, since one wants long stems, flowers that are just the right size, and some proven experience in a vase or arrangement. If only you could just hear me talking to myself, or the dogs, while in the garden saying ‘maarn, maaaarn. Maaaaaarn’ in my finest Dutch accent.

‘Crichton Honey’ has a color which is difficult to define. Peachy-cantalopey beige perhaps? Buff and honey, ugh, forget it — I can’t name things.

2. Crichton Honey 

Crichton Honey is one of the most popular dahlias with flower farms for late summer and fall weddings. Introduced in 1976, it’s an old timer. Luscious apricot-bronze balls that remain around 4″ in diameter, it’s a rather short plant, as far as dahlias go, topping out at about 3 feet tall, which makes it great as a border plant, too. Like all of the dahlias listed here, it too has very long stems.

Not a great name, but ‘blah blah blah’ is anything, but blah. Introduced in 2010 it has flowers that are 5″ which come as close to the hottest dahlia of all ( if you can find it!) cappuccino Cafe au Lait. It also pairs well with most other colors.

3. Blah Blah Blah 

Perhaps the new dahlia on the block, introduced in 2010, ‘Blah Blah Blah’s 4 inch flowers are symmetrical yet loose, but it comes in the yummiest of all dahlia colors – that one that everyone wants – so close to the ‘It’ dahlia, ‘Cafe au Lait'(which is almost impossible to find but I know that our local grower/breeder has it – Pleasant Valley Glads  located in West Suffield, CT.). This image does it little justice, but believe me, it;s a nice, tall, long-stemmed babe that will magically blend other colors together.

Here in Rhode Island ( where I work, not live) the Foxy Lady is a strip bar! Don’t ask how I know that…..I just know that. I do sometimes get invited to bachelor parties. Not that it makes me dislike this dahlia, which often makes the list at flower farms. Start with one tuber, and each year, divide them if the cost is too high.

4. Foxy Lady 

This is an odd bicolored dahlia which comes as a three and a half inch ball, so nice on those long, strong stems – but then in dusty rose and creamy yellow? Sweet. The reverse side of the petals is a deeper rose-mauve, almost purple by my definition, but still, somehow this all works. It too is a strong plant, which is tall, with plenty of flowers. It’s safe to say that all of these cut flower dahlias are great garden plants as well – not like the giant dahlias with one or two flowers that we often think of. Foxy Lady looks as if one painted darker colors on with a scratchy brush.

5. Cornell

Look, red may not be your color, and it certainly isn’t my color, but after seeing that many flower farms grow this variety, I had to try it. Even my designer friend (red-hating) Jess pointed it out the other day as a fav in the garden. Score! Introduced in 1982, a time when the idea of color trends leaned deep into mauve and slate blue, this bushy variety with strong, long stems is a surprise worth checking out. It’s really more of a dark, pomegranate (that helps, doesn’t it?), but my guess is that this variety was named after the Red Bear and Cornell University’s school color, even though most catalogs list it with on ‘l’. I added the second one, anyway. Supposedly this was bred by a Dutch breeder, but I am not certain, but the Dutch sites list it as ‘Cornell’ and not ‘Cornel’ as Swan Island Dahlias does, but the Dutch photos show it as a brilliant scarlet dahlia – the sort of color that hurts ones eyes, and this gem is certainly not that red! Trust me – it much nicer than it’s dating profile photo.

Dahlia ‘Intigue’

6. Intrigue

I would never, ever have ordered this dahlia if I just went by the image shown in a catalog ( look). I mean, pink just isn’t my thing when it comes to colors. But this beauty is insane – like pink Thai silk that has been left out blowing in the trade winds and sun for a year. It’s just about the perfect shade of watermelon sorbet, that I think I can’t live without it. Introduced in 2002, it’s about four inches in diameter, and has those long stems which are so handy when deciding what to do with dahlias – even though we all prefer them cut short! The plant too, is nice, nearly 5 feet tall, if not a little more this year, and covered in flowers until frost.

I’m not a fan of each of these colors when seen in a photo on a nursery site — but once grown in the home garden, I can see why they are popular as cut flowers, especially when picked. I was very pleased with this years’ selection that I grew, and I can’t wait until next year when I try more to add to the mix.

Most of my dahlias were purchased from Swan Island Dahlias on-line, but many of these varieties can be found at any of the dahlia sites listed on the American Dahlia Society website under sources.