Name the best looking dahlias you've grown?

12 years ago

Which dahlias that you've grown have ended up with the best looking flowers? Which ones with the best foliage as well?

I just left another thread about how some dahlia varieties dont end up looking as good as they did in the advertisement pictures on the package or on the internet(Alfred Grille), so which varieties that you've grown ended up looking as pretty as advertised?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (26)

redmond_phyllis
12 years ago
Bear in mind, some varieties grow better in some areas, and there are even differences between gardens. With that caviat, my favorites (10 out of 10) are: Show and Tell, Gloriousa, Baron Katie, Audrey Grace, and Sharky. There must be some others because I have a garden full of "have to haves."
oscarthecat
12 years ago
Just Married, Pee Gee, Farmer John and Aslan. Kiara Pompadour and Lovely Lana. Steve in Stevens County
Related Discussions
What are some of the most unusual bonsais you've grown
Q
Comments (21)
It's about 3-4 years old in the picture and had been chopped twice to induce the taper. Just about anything that's perennial and looks like it will make a trunk, I look at with the 'bonsai eye'. All my display containers with flowery stuff in them, as well as all the garden plantings .... even houseplants benefit immensely from the pinching/pruning techniques that thicken the plant or let air and light into the interior. The attention to form and the guidelines we use in building our trees readily apply to other plantings and make a big difference in their appearance. Most people realize even nonbonsai plantings are special in appearance because they don't appear to have the same growth habits that they are used to seeing in their own plants that have received little/no attention, and usually don't realize that there might have been a considerable amount of consideration given to improving the appearance. Sorry - I got off track. ;o) I was clearing out the containers ion the garden one year and there was a snap that had grown kind of thick and woody. Instead of the compost pile, it went in a pot & I nursed it through the winter & started to build on it in the second year. I give away a lot of plants like the one in the pic after figuring them out, but I've had that one for about 7 years or so. I should have repotted it last year, but I didn't, so it wend downhill over the winter. I repotted it a few weeks ago, and it's just warming up here - showing new growth. I had to prune it back quite a bit & I'll have to rebuild it, but I'll see how it responds to the repot. I can't imagine they would be all that long-lived. I've had several that were 5 years old when I gave them away, but this is the oldest I've had yet. It's just your every day snap that you get 6 to a cell pack at the greenhouse - nothing to stop you from building one. ;o) I have some volunteers in a permanent planter that has several volunteers in it, so I'll probably be digging one or two up in Aug. ..... keeps me off the streets and out of the bars. ;o) Al
...See More
Strangest Thing You've Ever Grown
Q
Comments (42)
"Strangest".... That's pretty funny, as I am the only one in my entire neighborhood that grows *ANY* fruit at all.... The neighbors look at me like I am some sort of anachronism for growing a little garden and some fruit trees.... But... The "Strangest" of all the common stuff I have is a cider pear, a Citation Rootstock peach/plum that had the graft die, an American Purple plum seedling, and a roadside dug-up seedling peach. My Purple and black tomatoes probably classify as what folks around here think is weirdest... They look and say "But... It's rotten!" On the sugar cane thing - if you poke around and ask the old timers at the feed stores - you will find that most farm families in the Deep South used to raise their own sugar cane for sweetening things.... As Jolji said - you bury them over the winter, then dig them up and plant them shallow after Easter... This year, I want a Jujube and a couple filberts... In years past - people expressed wonderment at my Vanilla orchids... Thanks
...See More
4 perennials you've never grown but would like to try
Q
Comments (20)
I would like to try Hollyhock, but it seems to have so many disease problems. I would love to try many plants but I just cannot tolerate floppiness. So I am hesitant to add Cosmos and Foxgloves to the garden as much as I love them. Cameron, here in Winston I am growing five Dahlias this year. I have a pink-orange daisy type that I bought at a nursery two years ago that overwintered in its pot the first year. It overwintered in the ground last year. I also have Ellen Houston which I bought at Lowe's last summer that overwintered in the ground; it was labeled as perennial. Interestingly, this year they were selling it as an annual, zone 9 I think! I added Ginger Willo, Crazy Legs, and Crossfield Ebony this year. I don't do anything too special to them (if they look really sad but don't need water I may mist the leaves) and they flower from June until frost. Well, I should say that I cover up the emerging spouts at night when they first pop out of the ground because slugs like them and I don't cut down the stocks after freezing to protect the tubers from water. I don't do any of the special preening and pruning because I am not trying to grow show flowers. You should give them a try!
...See More
What's the best vegetable variety you've ever grown?
Q
Comments (16)
I garden not far from NHBabs, the colder edge of zone 5. Last night we had a Confection kabocha squash from Johnny's. It was so sweet! Unfortunately, Johnny's is replacing it with a "better" variety. I also like Delicata for an easy winter squash for 2 people. I don't care too much for the butternut varieties except there's a Baker's Creek Long neck butternut that was an excellent keeper. Didn't have the great flavor of Confection but I would grow it again. Favorite zucchini is Costata Romanesco, a striped variety. Productive and great flavor. Any swiss chard after it gets cold in the fall. We liked Provider Bush green beans until I started growing the filet varieties. Good production. I agree with Sugar Snap. They might get 7' tall and production is great. I've tried other varieties and don't get the same production. Tyee spinach planted as early as possible. Gilfeather Turnip, nice flavor but I think it's really a white rutabaga. Decided I like Hakurei turnips. Was surprised that they grew very well even though I hadn't thinned them probably. I had clusters of turnips. I really liked Fedco's Fingerling sampler except for the blue potatoes. I thought our grandchildren would love them but we can't get past the blue color. And this is supposed to be a very nutritious variety! Carmen for a frying pepper that usually turns red.
...See More
Linda's Garden z6 Utah
12 years ago
My favorites are
Grand Finale
I'm a Hottie
Moonlight Sonata
Show-n-tell
Bewitched
Raspberry Punch
Junkyard Dog

I do have some that don't look anything like the pictures. Sonic bloom is one of them, it looks very coral colored in the picture but mine is mostly purple. Its pretty though, just not what I thought it would be.
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
Cafe Au Lait
Peaches and Cream
Just Peachy
Mingus Toni
Vessio Meggos
Blutiful (Swan Island)
Paticia Ann's Sunset (SI)
Diva (SI)
Islander
Fuzzy Wuzzy
GeorgePichardo
12 years ago
It would be Hakoyou and Envy! They are an awesome dahlia flower duo.
edewitt
12 years ago
Alfred Grille
Bee Happy
Canby Centennial
Gitt's Perfection
Hollyhill Spider Woman
Hy Patti
Rejman's Polish Kid
Star's Favorite
Tempest

These are a few I can think of off the top of my head that have great blooms.
annabeth
12 years ago
I know this is an older post but I thought it was fun and I wanted to jump in with an answer:

Spartacus-always nice

Verda-prettier in person than any picture

Hart's Lora Ann-an unexpected freebie tuber that became my favorite dahlia of last summer, although it would fade a bit on some of the petal edges when it really got hot. When it.s nice, it's NICE.

Wyn's Farmer John-I was shocked that the lavender blush held up in my extreme heat. I thought that that would fade like so many blushed roses do, but it didn't. It held up quite well in heat.

G. Whiz-what a workhorse in my garden and although it was a little more orange than I thought by the photos of it on Accent's website, it is still very nice in color and its form was always what it should be.

Akita-some of the early blooms have really short stems but the flowers were beautiful. After the initial blooms the stems got longer and longer. I don't know if that is a quirk of the variety or just something about my caretaking.

Wanda's Capella-another favorite this past summer. It's a nice big yellow. Its stems were even pretty, there was just something about them that struck me.

Croydon Masterpiece-love it! I want to plant every tuber I get out of the clumps. Some of the less appealing varieties will have to go to make room. Goodbye, September Morn, with your small size and always open center!

Annabeth
Linda's Garden z6 Utah
12 years ago
Looking back at last year's growing season one of my absolute favorites was Hot Tamale. I didn't add that one on my previous list (probably cuz it hadn't bloomed at that time). It has beautiful flowers that hold up well even when cut and it bloomed a lot!

Linda
edewitt
12 years ago
That's a shame about your "Alfred Grille" the one I grew in 2010 looked as good as any of the pictures I'd see of it. Here's a few of my favorite blooms.

Alpen Diamond
Formby Perfection
Gitt's Perfection
High Plains Majesty
Hy Patti
Kenora Fantastic
Rejman's Polish Kid
Trooper Dan
Verrone's Obsidian
edewitt
12 years ago
Haha, I just noticed I had already replied to this awhile ago and now I feel silly. Winter makes me stir-crazy. Hurry up already, Spring.
carolyn18810
12 years ago
Ironically I was just looking at Akita in the new Swan Island catalog. It's a beauty.

One of my best performers has to be Tyler James

Here is a link that might be useful: Tyler James
Linda's Garden z6 Utah
12 years ago
edewitt, don't feel silly, I noticed you changed some of your selections. I added another one to my original post too. I agree with you about spring... I am getting spring fever already and the sad thing is we just got our first big snowstorm yesterday here in Utah. I have a feeling its gonna be a long while before spring is here. I am already planning which ones I am going to start early in the house. Not sure when I will do that...probably sometime in March.

Linda
teddahlia
12 years ago
"That's a shame about your "Alfred Grille" the one I grew in 2010 looked as good as any of the pictures I'd see of it."

Alfred Grille is variable: there is good stock and bad stock of it out there. When it is good, it is one of the old timers that really looks good.
mandolls
12 years ago
I love the fact that every single list here is completely different! I am up to about 30 different types of tubers, and I only see 2 or 3 of them on anyones lists.

I guess that means there are hundreds of "must have" favorite tubers out there for me to discover.

Last years faves in my garden:

Inland Dynasty
Beach Bum
Dr. John Kaiser
Juul's Allstar
Lucca Johanna
Marlene
vikingcraftsman
12 years ago
Since the new growing season has started I will add my two cents. I like in my garden Hakoyou, Envy , and Farmer John. They were the bigest and showest flowers I had.
dahlialove
12 years ago
My favorite was Blown Dry last season:

{{gwi:645578}}

Prior to that it was Bliss, but my tuber didn't survive so I ordered one for this year. It fills in cut arrangements so nicely.
teddahlia
12 years ago
There seems to be a combination of of what you like and what is available to the average gardener. With a little bit of searching there are varieties that may exceed your expectations but are not yet well distributed. If they were more available, I am certain that they would be on these lists. An example is Sorbet, a beautiful semi cactus in white with glowing purple-magenta tips.

Link to picture: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28188015@N05/6074014474/

Others that are well worth trying are Kenora Wow, RC Diane Brazil, Carmen Bunky, Rejmans Polish Kid and a lot more.
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
I would have a different list every day! As I have been going through mine digging the ones that need dividing I notice others I didn't think of when I last posted a list. Here is the March 2012 version of the ones I can't wait to see again...

Carmen Bunky
Newaukum Grape
Diva
Jordan Nicole
Sheer Heavens
October Skies,
All that Jazz
Merlot
Wyoming Wedding
Lemon Kiss
Cyma Warrior.

Ask me tomorrow and I will have a different list! This makes it really hard to pick 20 to eliminate to make room for new ones. THe only one I know of yet to eliminate is Ahoy Matey, And a Purple that always had a blank center last year. The rest are going to be really hard! Some will probably be moved up around the house.
vikingcraftsman
12 years ago
Now we have to go to the web and look up your new list of favorites lizalily. LOL
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
Carmen Bunky
{{gwi:645580}}

Newaukum Grape
{{gwi:645582}}

Diva
{{gwi:645583}}

Jordan Nicole
{{gwi:645584}}

Sheer Heavens
{{gwi:645585}}

October Skies,
{{gwi:645586}}

All that Jazz
{{gwi:645587}}

Merlot
{{gwi:645588}}

Wyoming Wedding
{{gwi:645589}}

Lemon Kiss
{{gwi:645590}}

Cyma Warrior.
{{gwi:645591}}
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
Carmen Bunky, bbWL. Always a deep intense blued pink. Actually all of them are bb down to Merlot which I think it a B. I love how its petals curve upwards like they are taking off in flight! Lemon Kiss and Cyma Warrior can reach B sized also.

I am mostly interested in cut flowers, hence the small ones.
Oh for a bouquet of fresh "Merlot"(the flower) on my table today!
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
Carmen Bunky, bbWL. Always a deep intense blued pink. Actually all of them are bb down to Merlot which I think it a B. I love how its petals curve upwards like they are taking off in flight! Lemon Kiss and Cyma Warrior can reach B sized also.

I am mostly interested in cut flowers, hence the small ones.
Oh for a bouquet of fresh "Merlot"(the flower) on my table today!
mytime
12 years ago
Lizalily and Dahlialove--What luscious pictures!
mantis__oh
12 years ago
It's so difficult to name a "best-looking" one. Here are some I especially enjoyed last year, and I don't enjoy them unless they produce well too. I hope I'm not violating decorum by posting outside of the gallery.

COLORADO CLASSIC
{{gwi:645592}}

KARMA SANGRIA
{{gwi:645593}}

KORB SUMMER GALA
{{gwi:645594}}

SEPTEMBER MORN (probably my fave from last year, but I don't grow as many others here)
{{gwi:645595}}
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
Ah yes! All that Jazz, love all the colors she displays! Mine was so slow getting going last year with our cold gray summer but I did have some nice ones before frost, and will certainly plant it this year. Another nice one is "September Morn". I have to stop and think which is which between those two as they both show blends of nice autumn colors that go well with other flowers. Its nice to see what form "All that Jazz"could live up to if it got in gear here!
Noni Morrison
12 years ago
I should have gone to bed before that last post, LOL. I'm still royally confused between these two but I love them both...lovely autumn colors!

Name the best looking dahlias you've grown?

Comments (26)

redmond_phyllis

oscarthecat

Related Discussions

Linda's Garden z6 Utah

Noni Morrison

GeorgePichardo

edewitt

annabeth

Linda's Garden z6 Utah

edewitt

edewitt

carolyn18810

Linda's Garden z6 Utah

teddahlia

mandolls

vikingcraftsman

dahlialove

teddahlia

Noni Morrison

vikingcraftsman

Noni Morrison

Noni Morrison

Noni Morrison

mytime

mantis__oh

Noni Morrison

Noni Morrison

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US