Dahlias for every garden - Garden Outdoor Living

Sunset, March, 2002 by Lauren Bonar Swezey

* Who can resist a pretty face like Sweet Lorraine' or the intriguing form of 'Anna Marie'? For that matter, who won't be seduced by any of the hundreds of magnificent dahlia blossoms that splash across the pages of catalogs and captivate us at garden shows and nurseries this month? The truth is, few gardeners can say no to dahlias: When you see them in bloom, you'll want to grow them. Perhaps that's why the dahlia is the city flower of both San Francisco and Seattle.

* "Dahlias have never been as beautiful as they are today," says Erik Juul, award-winning dahlia hybridizer who, along with his wife, Gerda, grows hundreds of tubers in their San Francisco garden and at Golden Gate Park Dahlia Dell. "There are more colors, shapes and sizes, and more people developing new dahlias than ever."

* From the mammoth Cactus to the elegant Waterlily to the diminutive Pompon, there's a dahlia size that will appeal to almost any taste and style of garden. And the color range? You'll find every shade in the rainbow except blue, including gorgeous blends of two or more colors.

* In the garden, dahlias are surprisingly easy to grow--and will brighten up beds and borders with brilliant blooms from summer through fall.

Growers' favorites

To keep track of the thousands of varieties available today, the American Dahlia Society classifies the flowers according to color, flower size, and form. The largest blooms (classed as AA) can reach 14 inches or more across, while the smallest ones (Pompon and Mignon Single) bear flowers as small as 2 inches across.

The shape of the petals (called ray florets) determines the flower formation. Here we list dahlia flower forms, along with the favorite varieties of three Western dahlia specialists--Erik and Gerda Juul, Jennifer Eubank of Swan Island Dahlias, and Kim Connell of Connell's Dahlias-- and their comments about them.

* FORMAL DECORATIVE: Flat petals are uniform and arranged like shingles on a roof. 'Almond Joy' (lavender and white blend); good, strong stems. 'Canby Centennial' (deep rose red); named in honor of the 100th birthday of Canby, Oregon; 'Vernon Rose' (variegated pink and dark red); "everybody's favorite."

* INFORMAL DECORATIVE: Petals are twisted, curled, or wavy, and their arrangement is irregular. 'Dana' (bright orange red with a bright yellow center); "very showy in the garden." 'Gitts Perfection' (delicate pink blending to white); "absolutely gorgeous show winner." 'San Francisco Sunrise' (very bright orange); outstanding color, good for cutting.

* SEMICACTUS: Petals are broad at the base and rolled for up to half their length. 'Camano Regal' (purple); "exceptional flower." 'Dare Devil' (bright red); excellent cut flower. 'Kenora Sunset' (red and yellow blend); "very popular color," good for cutting.

* CACTUS: Petals are rolled for more than half their length, straight or slightly curved downward; they radiate in all directions from the center. 'Glenbank Twinkle' (white and purple); "striking in the garden." 'Ruskin Marigold' (orange); "new, good in every way"

* INCURVED CACTUS: Petals are rolled for more than half their length and curved upward. 'Bird's Nest' (pink); "swirls like a Ferris wheel-- very interesting." 'Lilac Mist' (white blending to lavender); excellent in the garden and as a cut flower.

* FIMBRIATED OR LACINIATED: Petals are split on the ends, giving the flower a fringed look. 'Al Almand' (orange); striking color. 'Fidalgo Climax' (clear yellow); "unusual shaggy look." 'Nenekazi' (red and pink blend); "beautiful color." 'Show 'N' Tell' (red tipped with yellow); "very showy like its name."

* BALL: The fully double flowers are ball shaped and more than 3 1/2 inches wide. 'Jessie G' (dark red); lots of blooms, great color, good for cutting. 'Kenora Fireball' (silvery red); striking color, good form. 'L'Ancresse' (white); excellent cut flower. 'Robin Hood' (orange and pink blend); unusual color combination.

* MINIATURE BALL: It is like Ball but smaller, between 2 and 3 1/2 inches wide. 'Downham Royal' (dark purple); "beautiful color." 'Robann Royal' (lavender); a popular variety.

* POMPON: Also similar to Ball, but blooms are less than 2 inches in diameter. Poppet' (orange); beautiful color, good in the garden. 'Yellow Baby' (yellow); a favorite for arranging.

* WATERLILY: Fully double blooms look like saucers from the side. The center should be closed. 'Juul's Lotus' (white blushed with lavender); "beautiful in bouquets." 'Snowflake' (pure white); one of the best whites for cut flowers. 'Wildwood Marie' (pink with yellow center); "beautiful colors."

* PEONY: Open-centered flowers have two or more rows of petals surrounding a disc. 'Longwood Dainty' (orange); "a winner. Powder Gull' (pink); "a winning flower." 'Tasagore' (dark red); very striking green-black foliage.

* ANEMONE: One or more rows of single petals surround a pincushion-like dome. 'Alpen Pearl' (lavender, yellow and white blend); "stands out in the garden and at shows." 'Goldie Gull' (yellow and pink); "another winner."