Whenever a new flower farmer asks me what they should grow- I always say- “Grow white.” You can never have too many white flowers. And I must admit, I really like a white dahlia. There’s just something about a pure clean perfect white dahlia- velvet like petals, a bit of sparkly dahlia glitter!

I’ve grown a lot of white varieties over the years to find the ones that really produce here in my hot climate and I’d like to share some with you.

Blizzard- You probably knew I was going to say this one. She’s been gaining in popularity for years now. Highly prolific, strong stems, good tuber maker (easy to divide too)- perfect size for all types of design work. What’s not to like? Aptly named- If you look down a row of Blizzard blooms, it really does look like a bunch of snowballs on sticks!

Ryecroft Jan- the ubiquitous white ball dahlia. You can never go wrong with a white ball dahlia- it’s a perennial favorite among my florist customers. Tallish plant, very strong stems, 3ish inches in diameter (larger in cooler climates I believe) and reasonable tuber maker- they store well.

Karma Maarten De Zwaan- probably the most prolific decorative white dahlia that I know of! I get 3 strong flushes off this one in my climate (which does have a long growing season). The first flush can be a touch shorter than I like but I’ve learned to cut very deep into the plant. Then she’ll re-flush with taller stems. Strong but not thick stems- perfect for design work. Also the side buds will produce a decent sized flower if you miss the harvest window on the first bloom.
Her only downside is she’s a Karma. Karma dahlias were created a while back specifically for cut flower use and were patented. The patent doesn’t expire until 2026. This means you can’t propagate off your stock or resell it. I’ve been buying cuttings for years now - they work great! They are also available as clumps from tuber wholesalers and some re-sellers online.

Bridezilla- I think this beauty was named to soothe bridezillas everywhere. There is nothing diva-ish about her. She’s white with a creamy center. In late season, if you let her really open up- the blooms become fluffy and peony like. She’s gorgeous! Medium height plant, 4-6” bloom, Good for a focal flower in design work.

Beaucon White- She’s my favorite decorative style dahlia. Big enough to draw attention without being over-bearing. Lots of fluffy gorgeous layers to get lost in. Pretty much every brides dream white dahlia. Medium height plant, reasonably prolific for a larger bloom, great vase life!

Roque Starburst- I’ll give an honorable mention to this one. She’s fantastic, sadly I don’t have much need for lots of large dinnerplate sized white dahlias. But if you do- give her a try. She can have a slight blush in the center sometimes. Tall plant with strong stems and good vase life - especially for a dinnerplate.

If you are growing for cut flower production, I recommend growing a lot of the first 3- Blizzard, Ryecroft Jan and Karma Maarten De Zwaan. Those will serve you well. Then add in some Beaucon white and maybe a few Roque Starburst. You’ll have enough fluffy white dahlias to satisfy any bride!

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