2026 - Dahlia Blooms

SteveM · 2026-01-05T18:01:08+00:00

Camano Cloud A January bloom from a container grown plant. This is probably my favorite color of dahlia and I haven't seen the exact color in any other vari...

Bessie

Teddahlia when I gather data on my seedlings I include a depth measurement. The great majority of the flowers this year are right around 1" depth. There's a lot of waterlily genes floating around. Because I started out in 2022 with several waterlily plants, the seedlings have carried those genes forward. This year one of my goals is to improve vase life, and those waterlily genetics unfortunately default to around 4 days vase life.

Teddahlia

What is a trait that improves vase life? Deeper color?

Bessie

Teddahlia I'll keep that in mind! I think it may go back to some of the lessons you've given on vacuoles being filled (lots of pigment) vs. 'empty' (less pigment, light colors).

GalenaB

Bracken Sequel - I love this one. Currently have about 100 varieties blooming, and the field itself is full of buds and will be in close to full bloom by the end of the month.

Teddahlia

Many Bracken varieties have the formal decorative florets that lay flat instead of rolling up like many USA FDs that resemble ball type flowers.

Bessie

It's frustrating trying to categorize some colors of dahlias! The deep royal purple/ magenta mix with a red undertone has no color chip. Right-click to Open image in a new tab to enable enlarging.

Bessie

Today's photos of dahlias picked a few days ago

One more

I'm starting to give myself a little slack... I'm not great at giving dahlias what they need to be their best, e.g.

SteveM

Bessie It seems almost all of the dahlia-cut-market breeders are breeding "round" dahlias with a few ID forms thrown in. It is nice to see you are getting some other forms into the popular wedding color palette.

Bessie

SteveM I hope some seedlings turn out good enough. I'm learning so much with each passing day. Right now I feel like it's organized chaos. FYI, it seems 23049, a 4th year seedling, doesn't die easily! It's defied my neglect and is blooming in a few places in the yard. Here's a photo from 2 years ago.

Teddahlia

I believe the purple one is a dark blend of purple and purple(different color chips). Your older seedling has very small flowers in pleasing colors.

Bessie

New to me this year is Sarah Mae, and it is blooming. It's slightly immature, but the next chance to photograph it would be in 8 days.

Justafewdahlias

Original and pink sport of Hollyhill Bewitched. This same plant went super dark red last year for a bloom at the end of the season. Now I see a bloom on it that looks solid pink vs varigated. What a fun surprise!

calico20hill

What I am seeing this year is that my seedlings have much bigger flowers then in past years. I always fertilize according to what my soil test shows so I am not sure why they are so much bigger this year. Same drip watering system. It seems like this year was warmer earlier then other years, at least in my memory. Would that make the flowers bigger? Bigger flowers is not necessarily a good thing for cut flower growers...

Teddahlia

Size: This seedling has well shaped flowers that vary in size from 4 inches to about 2.5 inches. Usually, flowers of this size only vary a little bit.

Teddahlia

Third year joker type. M likes it. Light in kitchen makes it look darker.

Teddahlia

Flat cactus looks cool to me but probably not so much for most people.

Bessie

Teddahlia I like the orange flat cactus. I had a seedling that was similar with slightly twisted petals that did look really pretty. I imagined it in a floral arrangement.

MesaMesa

Teddahlia Oh I am really into that one. I'd like it for a centerpiece arrangement. It reminds me of a lily.

Juliarugula

Hollyhill Little Moon is such a perfect sphere! I love it! Also, it’s much less “little” than I was expecting.

MissyWeitzel

Juliarugula will you pretty please save me a tuber if you have enough? I couldn't get my hands on it this year. It's beautiful!

Juliarugula

MissyWeitzel I’ll definitely try! Only one plant this year so cross your fingers!!

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