Dahlia Varieties: 64 Spectacular Types For Your Garden

Dahlia Varieties: 64 Different Types to Transform Your Garden

Dahlias are beloved for their spectacular variety, offering countless shapes, colors, and flower forms. With more than 57,000 registered cultivars and thousands available to gardeners, finding the perfect dahlia for your landscape can be both thrilling and overwhelming.
In this definitive guide, we spotlight 64 stunning dahlia varieties—organized by type, shape, and color—giving you a comprehensive look at the possibilities for your garden or floral arrangements.

About Dahlias

Dahlias are tuberous perennials native to Mexico and Central America, cherished for their extraordinary blooms that range from petite pompons to dinner-plate-sized wonders. With almost every color imaginable except blue, and forms that mimic zinnias, marigolds, and even anemones, dahlias provide something for every gardener’s taste.
Most dahlias are grown for their flowers rather than fragrance, as their blooms are generally scentless.

Dahlia Flower Classifications & Shapes

Dahlias are organized by flower form, which describes the shape, petal arrangement, and size of their blooms. Here are the major types:

• Decorative Dahlias: Fully double flowers with broad, flat petals and no visible center.
• Cactus & Semi-Cactus Dahlias: Spiky petals that are sharply pointed. Semi-cactus have slightly less rolled petals.
• Ball & Pompon Dahlias: Rounded, petal-packed blooms; pompons are smaller and perfectly spherical.
• Collarette Dahlias: Single row of flat petals with an inner ring of small, collar-like petals.
• Single & Star Dahlias: Single row of petals, often star-shaped.
• Anemone & Orchid Dahlias: Compact, fluffy centers surrounded by a single or double row of flat petals.
• Peony & Waterlily Dahlias: Double flowers with open centers (peony) or symmetrical, waterlily-like shapes.
• Novelty/Orchid Dahlias: Unusual forms, often with twisted or rolled petals.
• Other Types: Mignon, Stellar, and Fimbriated dahlias each offer unique petal arrangements and forms.

Decorative Dahlias

Decorative dahlias have large, fully double flower heads with broad, often slightly curved petals. Their bold symmetry makes them stand out in any garden setting or bouquet.

• ‘Café au Lait’: Iconic creamy-beige blooms, revered for wedding arrangements.
• ‘Thomas Edison’: Rich, deep purple, almost velvet blooms.
• ‘Fleurel’: Pure white, massive blooms ideal for dramatic displays.
• ‘Kelvin Floodlight’: Vibrant, bright yellow flowers measuring up to 10 inches across.
• ‘Labyrinth’: Vivid pink and peach swirls that look as complex as their name.
• ‘Lilac Time’: Striking lilac-purple, double-petaled blossoms with minimal fragrance.
• ‘Melody Dora’: Soft peach with hints of purple veins; excellent for containers and compact gardens.

Cactus & Semi-Cactus Dahlias

These dahlias have dramatic, spiky petals that radiate from the center for a dazzling, textural effect. Semi-cactus types are slightly less spiky but equally eye-catching.

• ‘Purple Gem’: Vibrant magenta-purple, intensely spiked blooms.
• ‘Bora Bora’: Exotic blend of orange and pink with sharply pointed petals.
• ‘Star Elite’: Bright yellow with a classic cactus petal structure.
• ‘Jessica’: Cherry red tips blending into golden yellow.
• ‘Hollyhill Spider Woman’: Deep burgundy, twisted petals resembling spider legs.

Ball & Pompon Dahlias

Recognizable for their rounded, layered blooms packed densely with petals, ball and pompon dahlias are long-lasting in both gardens and arrangements.

• ‘Cornel’: Classic, vivid red, perfectly spherical blooms.
• ‘Ivanetti’: Deep purple-maroon balls that last well as cut flowers.
• ‘Jowey Winnie’: Warm pink-apricot tones, strongly rounded form.
• ‘Franz Kafka’: Bubblegum pink, small pompons ideal for borders.
• ‘Sylvia’: Bright orange, high-productivity blooms.

Collarette Dahlias

These charming dahlias feature a single layer of large petals, surrounding a ring of smaller inner petals (“collarette”), often in a contrasting color.

• ‘Night Butterfly’: Deep purple outer petals with white collars.
• ‘Claire de Lune’: Pale yellow, star-shaped petals with cream collars.
• ‘Teesbrooke Audrey’: White petals, soft lilac collars.
• ‘Pooh’: Yellow petals with red centers and a white collar.

Single, Anemone, and Orchid Dahlias

Single dahlias have a solitary row of petals and a visible yellow center. Anemone types boast a fluffy, dome-shaped center, while Orchid dahlias display twisted or rolled petals for a whimsical effect.

• ‘Magenta Star’: Eight magenta petals with white streaks; bold yellow pollen ring in the center.
• ‘Blue Wish’ (Anemone): Lavender outer petals and a packed, yellow center (note: true blue dahlias do not exist).
• ‘Honka’: Star-shaped with elegant yellow, slender rolled petals.
• ‘Honka Fragile’: Similar to ‘Honka’ but with white petals and pink tips.
• ‘Fashion Monger’: Single-petaled with white and red splotches and a yellow center.

Peony & Waterlily Dahlias

Resembling their namesakes, peony and waterlily dahlias have multi-layered petals forming soft, full blooms, often with open centers for pollinators.

• ‘Bishop of Llandaff’: Classic peony form, bright red petals above deep bronze foliage.
• ‘Gerrie Hoek’: Soft pink, symmetrical waterlily blooms.
• ‘Glorie Van Heemstede’: Light yellow, peony-shaped flowers with vivid green foliage.

Unique & Novelty Dahlias

Some dahlias defy easy classification, with petals that twist, roll, or split into fringes. These specimens add surprise and conversation to any garden or bouquet.

• ‘Totally Tangerine’: Semi-double with orange petals and lavender-pink reverse.
• ‘Mystic Illusion’: Lemon yellow, flat petals with purple-black foliage.
• ‘Waltzing Mathilda’: Salmon orange petals with bronze foliage.

Best Dahlias for Containers & Small Spaces

• ‘Melody Dora’: Compact, colorful, and perfect for pots.
• ‘Gallery Art Deco’: Pink-and-orange blend, dwarf growth habit.
• ‘Gallery Pablo’: Bright yellow, small-sized blooms.
• ‘Miniature Ball Dahlia’: Tiny, round blooms in an array of colors.

Most Productive & Cut Flower Dahlias

Certain dahlias are prized for their prolific bloom production and outstanding performance in cut arrangements.

• ‘Sylvia’: Orange, reliable, and ever-blooming.
• ‘Cornel’: Classic red balls, strong stems—favorites for florists.
• ‘Jowey Winnie’: Warm peachy-pink, perfect for bouquets.
• ‘Thomas Edison’: Deep purple, large blooms with excellent vase life.

Rare & Collector’s Dahlias

• ‘Labyrinth’: Complex, swirling petals in pink and peach tones.
• ‘Café au Lait Rosé’: Blush pink variation of the iconic ‘Café au Lait’.
• ‘Clearview Daniel’: Rare, snow-white, massive blooms.

A Dahlia Color Extravaganza

Within each form, dahlias offer nearly every color imaginable—except true blue. Highlights include deep reds, rich purples, pure whites, sunny yellows, flaming oranges, and countless blends and bicolors.

Tips for Growing & Choosing Dahlias

• Plant tubers outdoors after the last frost when the soil consistently reaches at least 60°F (15°C).
• Choose a planting site with full sun and rich, well-draining soil.
• Pinch back stems to encourage bushier growth and more blooms.
• Staking may be necessary for larger varieties with heavy blooms.
• Cut flowers in the early morning for the best vase life.
• Remove spent flowers regularly to encourage additional blooms.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Are dahlias annuals or perennials?

A: Dahlias are tender perennials. In frost-free climates, they return year after year. In colder regions, dig up and store the tubers over winter.

Q: Do dahlias have a fragrance?

A: Most dahlias are fragrance-free, focusing on visual beauty rather than scent.

Q: What’s the best dahlia for beginners?

A: Decorative and ball dahlias are some of the easiest to grow thanks to their strong stems and prolific flowering habit.

Q: Why don’t blue dahlias exist?

A: True blue pigment is genetically impossible in dahlias, though some varieties come close with lavender or purple shades.

Q: How do I get more blooms from my dahlias?

A: Plant in full sun, deadhead regularly, and feed with a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Pinching the tops early in the season helps produce bushier plants and more flowers.

Conclusion

Dahlias present a kaleidoscope of possibilities for the gardener, from petite pompons to bold decorative giants and everything in between. Whether you crave classic forms, prolific blooming, show-stopping colors, or unusual petal shapes, there’s a dahlia variety to thrill and inspire.
Use this guide to spark your selection and create a garden— or a vase— bursting with color, texture, and personality. With over 64 dazzling varieties described here, the only limit is your imagination.

Author

Shinta

 

Shinta is a biotechnologist turned writer. She holds a master's degree in Biotechnology from Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences and a PG Diploma in cellular and molecular diagnostics from Manipal University. Shinta realised her love for content while working as an editor for a scientific journal.

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