New (To Me) Dahlia Varieties - August 2023
Dahlias have been in bloom for a full month here on our farm in Travelers Rest. I’m already seeing some new varieties that have potential as keepers.
I love dahlias that bloom in August! Why? Because early bloomers have so much potential- you can usually get two flushes off early varieties in our long growing season. So much more beauty potential!
I want to share some of them with you today. Caveat— These are my first impressions. I grow a dahlia for at least 2 years, usually 3 before I choose to add it to my collection.
Lark’s Ebbe
Lark’s Ebbe: I don’t think I really have to say much about this one- What a gorgeous color! Perfect size, I mean what’s not to like. Early bloomer, not too tall. So far it’s got a lot going for it.
Yvonne
Yvonne: I grew this one a few years ago but ended up getting rid of it. But from time to time I would think about this dahlia so I decided to bring it back. It’s a great combination dahlia— by that I mean that it’s good for a cut flower but also as a garden dahlia. It’s not super tall so will stand on it’s own with minimal support (or you could plant it admist other things to support it some). Early bloomer and gives lots of blooms. The petals are a bit susceptible to bruising (which was the original reason I cut it) but if you can handle it well— It’s really gorgeous!
KA’s Keltie Rose
KA’s Keltie Rose: 2nd year growing but in the crapshoot that was the 2022 season, I only got one bloom. This was grown from a cutting so it could be a bit later from a tuber. But the color on this— the photo doesn’t do it justice. It’s a dusty smoky rose color! I’m hoping it will pump out some blooms because I see a lot of potential for this color- I need a prolific bloomer in this tone. It’s a pretty plant too— slightly darker green foliage and the plant blooms above the leaf canopy.
Robinhood
Robinhood: This is another one that I used to grow but lost the tubers back in the days when I didn’t know how to store properly (takes a few years to learn). I love it’s coloring- kinda raspberry with peachy undertones. Early bloomer and threw a flush of several stems at once.
Gerrie Hoek
Gerrie Hoek: I’m loving the color and form of this one. It changes color with temperature too— blushier in heat and pinker in cool. It does have some growth habit issues— does a bit better with some disbudding so we’ll see if I feel like keeping up with that. But the main thing I love about this dahlia is that it makes me smile every time I walk past it. It’s the happiest flower!
All That Jazz
All That Jazz: This one was offered to me as a trade from another grower. I loved it’s coloring in photos I saw. I’ve been eagerly awaiting it to bloom and it finally did this week. The photo doesn’t do it justice - it has a tan/peach reverse with some purple tips and almost a light sangria color to the front. I’m going to have to pull out my nice camera because the phone camera isn’t cutting it!
So just a few I’m excited about. Still need to see if they are good tuber producers, resistant to powdery mildew, prolific and then to see how they do through different growing conditions - which takes a few years!