Types of dahlias

Dahlias are sorted by flower form: ball, pompon, cactus, decorative, waterlily and more, and by bloom size. Use the filters to narrow the list by form, color, size and height, then open a variety for its full record and where to buy tubers.

All dahlias

71 dahlia varieties

A Arabian Night dahlia flower up close on the plant Arabian Night Heirloom decorative dahlia with 4-5 in deep burgundy-maroon blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Barbarossa dahlia flower up close on the plant Barbarossa Red decorative dinnerplate-type dahlia on 36 to 48-inch plants. Formal decorativeMidsummerMedium height
A Bee Happy dahlia flower up close on the plant Bee Happy Fuchsia collarette dahlia blending to burgundy at the center, with black foliage and stems. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Bishop of Llandaff dahlia flower up close on the plant Bishop of Llandaff Scarlet red peony-flowered dahlia with dark centers and burgundy-bronze foliage. PeonyMidsummerMedium height
A Black Satin dahlia flower up close on the plant Black Satin Formal decorative dahlia with 4 in deep black-red blooms. Formal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Bora Bora dahlia flower up close on the plant Bora Bora Coral pink and yellow semi-cactus dahlia, 15-20 cm blooms, 70 to 100 cm tall. Semi-cactusMediumMidsummer
A Bride to Be dahlia flower up close on the plant Bride to Be White waterlily dahlia with 4-inch blooms on compact 3½-foot plants. WaterlilyMiniatureMidsummer
A Brown Sugar dahlia flower up close on the plant Brown Sugar Ball dahlia with rusty red-orange 3-4 in blooms fading to terracotta, on 30-36 in plants. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Bumble Rumble dahlia flower up close on the plant Bumble Rumble Pink and raspberry collarette dahlia with a large white collar, 3-inch blooms. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Café au Lait dahlia flower up close on the plant Café au Lait Informal decorative dahlia with 8-inch pale peach to blush blooms on 4-foot plants. Informal decorativeMediumLate summer
A Chick A Dee dahlia flower up close on the plant Chick A Dee Pompon dahlia with 1.5 in wine and pink bicolor blooms. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Cornel dahlia flower up close on the plant Cornel Dark red ball dahlia with 4-inch blooms on strong straight stems, 3.5 to 4 ft tall. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Cornel Bronze dahlia flower up close on the plant Cornel Bronze Ball dahlia with 4-inch bronze blooms on compact 3.5-foot plants. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Crème de Cassis dahlia flower up close on the plant Crème de Cassis Waterlily dahlia, 4-6 in lavender-pink blooms with a wine-red reverse on 30-36 in plants. WaterlilySmallMidsummer
A Crossfield Ebony dahlia flower up close on the plant Crossfield Ebony Pompon dahlia with 1.5 in black-red blooms, introduced 1955. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A David Howard dahlia flower up close on the plant David Howard Pumpkin-orange formal decorative dahlia with dark foliage, 4-6 inch blooms. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Diva dahlia flower up close on the plant Diva Formal decorative dahlia with 6-inch dark purple blooms on 4.5-foot plants. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Emory Paul dahlia flower up close on the plant Emory Paul Giant informal decorative dahlia, 12-14 in rosy purple-pink blooms, introduced 1962. Informal decorativeGiant (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Eveline dahlia flower up close on the plant Eveline Decorative dahlia with 4-6 inch white blooms tipped lavender-violet on 3-4 foot plants. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Firepot dahlia flower up close on the plant Firepot Orange waterlily dahlia with 3-inch blooms on compact 2-foot plants. WaterlilySmallLate summer
A Fluffles dahlia flower up close on the plant Fluffles Formal decorative dahlia with 5-inch lavender pink blooms, white at the center, on 4.5-foot plants. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Frank Holmes dahlia flower up close on the plant Frank Holmes Lavender pompon dahlia with a darker center, 1.5-inch blooms on 3.5-foot plants. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Gallery Art Nouveau dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Art Nouveau Compact 16 in border dahlia with fuchsia and burgundy blooms. Informal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Gallery Bellini dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Bellini Compact 14 in border dahlia with pastel pink blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Gallery Pablo dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Pablo Compact 14 in border dahlia with rose, melon and yellow blooms. Informal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Gallery Rembrandt dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Rembrandt Compact 16 in border dahlia with pink, white-tipped blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Gallery Singer dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Singer Compact 12 in border dahlia with 5 in red blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Gerrie Hoek dahlia flower up close on the plant Gerrie Hoek Shell-pink waterlily dahlia introduced in 1942, 5-inch blooms on 4-foot plants. WaterlilySmallMidsummer
A Giggles dahlia flower up close on the plant Giggles Coral-orange collarette dahlia with a lavender-pink collar, 3.5-inch blooms. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Glorie van Heemstede dahlia flower up close on the plant Glorie van Heemstede Golden yellow waterlily dahlia, 15 cm blooms on erect stems, 130 cm tall. WaterlilySmallMidsummer
A Grand Finale dahlia flower up close on the plant Grand Finale Semi-cactus dinnerplate dahlia with 10 in wine-colored blooms. Semi-cactusLarge (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Hollyhill Black Beauty dahlia flower up close on the plant Hollyhill Black Beauty Informal decorative dahlia with 6 in black-red blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Imperial Wine dahlia flower up close on the plant Imperial Wine Informal decorative dahlia with 4 in wine-colored blooms. Informal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Ivanetti dahlia flower up close on the plant Ivanetti Ball dahlia with dark purple 4 in blooms on 3.5 ft plants, introduced 1999. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Jowey Winnie dahlia flower up close on the plant Jowey Winnie Ball dahlia blending dusky pink, peach and mango with a plum center, on 36 in plants. BallMidsummerMedium height
A Karma Choc dahlia flower up close on the plant Karma Choc Waterlily dahlia with 4 in black-red blooms and dark foliage. WaterlilyMiniatureMidsummer
A Kasasagi dahlia flower up close on the plant Kasasagi Yellow and red pompon dahlia, 2-inch blooms on 3.5-foot plants. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Kelvin Floodlight dahlia flower up close on the plant Kelvin Floodlight Bright yellow dinnerplate dahlia with blooms up to 10 inches on 40-inch plants. Formal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Midsummer
A Koko Puff dahlia flower up close on the plant Koko Puff Smoky lavender pompon dahlia, 1.5-inch blooms on a compact 3-foot plant. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Labyrinth dahlia flower up close on the plant Labyrinth Informal decorative dahlia with 7-inch deep peach and pink blooms on 3 to 4 foot plants. Informal decorativeMediumMidsummer
A Lauren Michele dahlia flower up close on the plant Lauren Michele Lavender waterlily dahlia with a deep purple reverse, 3.5-inch blooms on 4-foot plants. WaterlilyMiniatureMidsummer
A Lights Out dahlia flower up close on the plant Lights Out Formal decorative dahlia with 3.5 in velvety black-red blooms. Formal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Linda's Baby dahlia flower up close on the plant Linda's Baby Ball dahlia with round 3-4 in dusky rose-pink to peach blooms. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Little Scottie dahlia flower up close on the plant Little Scottie Deep yellow pompon dahlia, 2-inch blooms on 3.5-foot plants. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Maarn dahlia flower up close on the plant Maarn Formal decorative dahlia with 4-inch pure orange blooms on 3.5-foot plants. Formal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Mango Madness dahlia flower up close on the plant Mango Madness Orange informal decorative dahlia with 11-inch blooms on compact 3.5 ft plants. Informal decorativeGiant (dinnerplate)Midsummer
A Mary Munns dahlia flower up close on the plant Mary Munns Deep lavender pompon dahlia, 2-inch blooms on 3-foot plants. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Nicholas dahlia flower up close on the plant Nicholas Peachy orange informal decorative dahlia with rust red centers, 6-inch blooms, 4 ft tall. Informal decorativeSmallLate summer
A Nighty Night dahlia flower up close on the plant Nighty Night Formal decorative dahlia with 4 in black-red blooms. Formal decorativeMiniatureMidsummer
A Otto's Thrill dahlia flower up close on the plant Otto's Thrill Informal decorative dahlia with 10-inch coral pink blooms on 4-foot plants. Informal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Peaches N' Cream dahlia flower up close on the plant Peaches N' Cream Formal decorative dahlia with salmon petals fading to white tips, 5-inch blooms. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Penhill Watermelon dahlia flower up close on the plant Penhill Watermelon Dinnerplate informal decorative dahlia, 10+ in blooms of peach, pink and lavender. Informal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Midsummer
A Pipsqueak dahlia flower up close on the plant Pipsqueak Watermelon-pink collarette dahlia with a hot pink collar, 3-inch blooms on 3.5-foot plants. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Platinum Blonde dahlia flower up close on the plant Platinum Blonde Anemone dahlia with white outer petals around an ivory-yellow center, 4-inch blooms. AnemoneMiniatureMidsummer
A Pooh dahlia flower up close on the plant Pooh Orange collarette dahlia edged and collared in yellow, 3.5-inch blooms on 4.5-foot plants. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Purple Taiheijo dahlia flower up close on the plant Purple Taiheijo Purple informal decorative dahlia with 12-inch blooms on a compact 3-foot plant. Informal decorativeGiant (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Rip City dahlia flower up close on the plant Rip City Chocolate-red informal decorative dahlia with 4 to 6-inch nodding blooms. Informal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Snowbound dahlia flower up close on the plant Snowbound White informal decorative dahlia with 9-inch blooms on 4-foot plants. Informal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Spartacus dahlia flower up close on the plant Spartacus Black-red informal decorative dahlia with 9-inch blooms, a longtime exhibition variety. Informal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Late summer
A Sterling Silver dahlia flower up close on the plant Sterling Silver White formal decorative dahlia with 7-inch blooms on strong stems and 4-foot plants. Formal decorativeMediumLate summer
A Sunny Boy dahlia flower up close on the plant Sunny Boy Yellow ball dahlia with red-rimmed petals, 3-inch blooms on 40-inch plants. BallMiniatureMidsummer
A Sweet Nathalie dahlia flower up close on the plant Sweet Nathalie Formal decorative dahlia with 5-inch pale blush blooms and long stems. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Tartan dahlia flower up close on the plant Tartan Informal decorative dahlia with 7 in burgundy and white blooms. Informal decorativeMediumMidsummer
A Thomas Edison dahlia flower up close on the plant Thomas Edison Dark purple informal decorative dahlia with 8-inch blooms on a compact 3.5 ft plant. Informal decorativeMediumLate summer
A Tiny Treasure dahlia flower up close on the plant Tiny Treasure White pompon dahlia, 1.5-inch blooms on a compact 3.5-foot plant. PomponMiniatureMidsummer
A Voodoo dahlia flower up close on the plant Voodoo Formal decorative dahlia with 5 in black-red blooms. Formal decorativeSmallMidsummer
A Wheels dahlia flower up close on the plant Wheels Red collarette dahlia with a bright yellow collar, 4-inch blooms on 4-foot plants. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A White Perfection dahlia flower up close on the plant White Perfection White formal decorative dinnerplate dahlia with 8-10 inch blooms on 3-4 foot plants. Formal decorativeLarge (dinnerplate)Midsummer
A Wizard of Oz dahlia flower up close on the plant Wizard of Oz Miniature ball dahlia with soft pink 2-3.5 in blooms on 2 to 2.7 ft plants. Miniature ballMiniatureMidsummer
A Yellow Bird dahlia flower up close on the plant Yellow Bird Yellow collarette dahlia with pointed petals and a ruffled collar, 4-inch blooms. CollaretteMiniatureMidsummer
A Yellow Star dahlia flower up close on the plant Yellow Star Yellow cactus dahlia with pointed, outward-rolled florets, 3 to 3.5 ft tall. CactusMidsummerMedium height

How to choose

  1. Pick the form first. It decides the look of the flower more than the color does.

  2. Check the bloom size. Dinnerplate types carry the largest flowers; ball and pompon types carry small, tight ones.

  3. Compare heights before you plan the bed. Tall varieties need staking and belong at the back.

Frequently asked questions

Are dahlias perennial?

They are tender perennials. The University of Georgia Extension notes that dahlias are not reliably hardy outside zone 9 unless heavily mulched. In colder zones, Wisconsin Extension advises digging the tubers before a hard freeze and storing them for winter.

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