My Top 10 Dahlias for 2024
We grow nearly 50 varieties of Dahlias here at re.Planted Farm. This blog post discusses our top 10 favourites. We use dahlias for both cut flowers and to sell tubers each Spring, so this list includes varieties we love in bouquets and have generous tuber production.
As our 2024 Dahlia Tuber Sale (Jan 7th) and many others begin for the 2024 Season, I hope you find the list of our best-performing, disease-resistant, and jaw-dropping dahlia varieties helpful.
SO, WHAT MAKES A GOOD DAHLIA?
Here are some the the factors I considered while compiling this list.
COLOUR
Dahlias come in thousands of colour variations. On our flower farm, we prefer dahlias that pair well in various possible colour combinations. We tend to stay away from multi-toned, variegated or garish-coloured dahlias that only sell well in limited pairings.
We also consider our sales channels. We grow dahlia for our weekly farmer’s market, our CSA and weddings. Each of these markets prefers different colour combinations.
We grow dahlias in every colour in the rainbow (except green and blue), but tend to prefer solid colours, in or pastel shades, and nothing too ‘loud’.
FORM
From single-petaled collarette types to ultra-full massive informal decorative types, better known as dinnerplates, dahlias come in a variety of shapes and forms.
At re.Planted, we prefer ball dahlias. They’re the easiest to work into bouquets, have the best vase life, and are most popular at market. We grow a few dinnerplates for large-scale wedding work and keep a few decorative-form dahlias that come in colours I can’t resist.
PRODUCTIVITY/CONSISTENCY
We have 110 frost-free days in our growing region, which leaves very little time to grow a frost-tender crop like dahlias. So, I tend to value dahlias that are early to bloom and can stay productive through peak summer temps.
We also sell dahlia tubers, so while this doesn’t always influence the varieties I select to grow, I still do value dahlias that are generous tuber producers.
Some dahlias also tend to bloom with open centers and change tones quite a bit as the season draws on. I find myself keeping varieties that stay as consistent as possible throughout the season. Colours tend to saturate a bit as we approach cooler weather in September, which I don’t mind, but dramatic changes, like spotting or streaking, are not usually welcomed here on our farm.
10) Mystique
I’m starting the countdown with the smokey-dusty-rosey-mauvy raspberry dahlia Mystique. She’s a challenging color to describe succinctly, and that’s exactly why I love this variety. One of the few decorative forms we grow, the nuanced tones of Mystique allow us to create highly sophisticated bouquets when paired with lavenders, peaches, and pinks.
Unfortunately, we won’t be offering tubers of this variety in our 2024 sale, but I’ve linked Nova Scotia-based flower farm Greener Pastures, if you’re interested in the tubers.
9) Kelgai Ann
The highly sought-after Kelgai Ann produces large upward-facing, waterlily flowers in the softest blush pink, and sometimes with darker pink streaks. The flowers close up at night and look extremely similar to a peony. It’s early, and productive and its unique form makes it great for wedding work.
My only complaint is that the stems can be thin, causing the flowers to pop off with regular handling, and that every so often the plants throw up blooms that are streaked in a garish bright pink.
We’ll have a very limited amount available during our 2024 Dahlia Tuber sale.
8) Creamy
Yellow flowers tend to sell poorly at our markets and in our grocery bouquets, but Creamy is a soft buttery yellow that everyone can fall in love with. It plays well with just about every colour, produces all season long, and comes in a size that’s easy to work with.
We’ll have a limited amount of these tubers during our 2024 sale.
7) Ferncliff Pearl
Holding its #7 spot, Ferncliff Pearl is the ONLY white ball dahlia we grow. Unlike most white ball dahlias that sometimes present with pale yellow centers, Ferncliff Pearl has pearlescent ivory centers that help make what otherwise would be a plain white flower an absolute stunner! Like most ball-shaped dahlias, Ferncliff Pearl has a good vase life, is early, and is an excellent producer.
6) Hot Pink
Hot Pink is an absolute must-have for every floral farmer, market gardener, or home grower! Hot Pink is one of the most reliably productive dahlias in our field and is a consistent performer. No drama, just lots of showy, large flowers. They hold well for bouquets, pair beautifully with any colour combination, and come with strong stems that resist drooping.
5) Red
Our #5 top variety, simply called “Red,” is the brightest, most eye-catching red dahlia we grow! Its petals are a rich red, and the flowers tend to be huge in size, with solid strong stems and great vase life. If you’re in the floral business, Red should be on your must-grow list.
4) Pink
Our number four spot goes to the gorgeous Pink dahlia. Similar to our Red dahlia, Pink features gorgeous blooms that can grow to 8” across. These flowers boast the same rich colour and consistency. Pink is also a solid performer in the field, producing through the season with a great vase life.
3) Orange
Coming in at #3 is the Orange dahlia, also known as “Orange.” This lovely variety is an all-round winner, performing like a champ all season long. The bright orange petals and perfect shape of this dahlia make it a great staple in our field, allowing us to create vibrant bouquets all summer long.
2) Black
Black is a fan-favourite! The rich black petals glimmer with a deep sheen, producing blooms that work wonders for moody, romantic arrangements. This stunning flower pairs well with other dahlias, but looks striking when alone as well.
1) Purple
Finally, at the top of the list, we have Purple. We could not run our farm without this variety! Purple is the earliest dahlia we grow and features an exciting, bold, rich purple that catches everyone’s eye! Its high production rate keeps it on our must-grow list and has been a reliable producer for many years.
Happy planting! I hope you find this list of our favourite dahlias helpful in your flower-growing journey.