Red dahlia varieties

These dahlias carry red in the bloom, either as the main color or as part of a blend. The table below compares their form, height, hardiness zones and bloom time side by side.

Varieties
16
Height
1–5 ft (30–152 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 8–11
Form

5 Formal decorative

3 Ball

3 Informal decorative

2 Pompon

1 Peony

1 Waterlily

1 Collarette

Compare all 16 side by side

All 16 red dahlia varieties

A Barbarossa dahlia flower up close on the plant Barbarossa Red decorative dinnerplate-type dahlia on 36 to 48-inch plants. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3–4 ft (91–122 cm) Formal decorative (estimated)
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. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2½–3 ft (76–91 cm)Peony
A Black Satin dahlia flower up close on the plant Black Satin Formal decorative dahlia with 4 in deep black-red blooms. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall5 ft (152 cm)Formal decorative
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. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall2½–3 ft (76–91 cm)Ball
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. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½–4 ft (107–122 cm)Ball
A Crossfield Ebony dahlia flower up close on the plant Crossfield Ebony Pompon dahlia with 1.5 in black-red blooms, introduced 1955. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½ ft (107 cm)Pompon
A Gallery Singer dahlia flower up close on the plant Gallery Singer Compact 12 in border dahlia with 5 in red blooms. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall12 in (30 cm) Informal decorative (estimated)
A Karma Choc dahlia flower up close on the plant Karma Choc Waterlily dahlia with 4 in black-red blooms and dark foliage. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½ ft (107 cm)Waterlily
A Kasasagi dahlia flower up close on the plant Kasasagi Yellow and red pompon dahlia, 2-inch blooms on 3.5-foot plants. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½ ft (107 cm)Pompon
A Lights Out dahlia flower up close on the plant Lights Out Formal decorative dahlia with 3.5 in velvety black-red blooms. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½ ft (107 cm)Formal decorative
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. Late summer, Fall4 ft (122 cm)Informal decorative
A Nighty Night dahlia flower up close on the plant Nighty Night Formal decorative dahlia with 4 in black-red blooms. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall4½ ft (137 cm)Formal decorative
A Spartacus dahlia flower up close on the plant Spartacus Black-red informal decorative dahlia with 9-inch blooms, a longtime exhibition variety. Late summer, Fall4½ ft (137 cm)Informal decorative
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. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall3½ ft (102 cm)Ball
A Voodoo dahlia flower up close on the plant Voodoo Formal decorative dahlia with 5 in black-red blooms. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall4½ ft (137 cm)Formal decorative
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. Midsummer, Late summer, Fall4 ft (122 cm)Collarette

How to choose

  1. Start with the form. Ball and pompon dahlias have small, tight, rounded blooms. Informal decorative and waterlily types have wider, looser petals. The Form column in the table says which each variety is.

  2. Red can appear on its own or as one color in a blend. If you want a single clear red, look in the Color column for varieties listed with red alone.

  3. Check the Height column before you plan the bed. Dahlias of the same color can differ a lot in height, and a tall variety set in front of a short one will hide it.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Barbarossa Formal decorative (estimated) 3–4 ft (91–122 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun, Part sun
Bishop of Llandaff Peony 2½–3 ft (76–91 cm) 8–11 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Black Satin Formal decorative 5 ft (152 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Brown Sugar Ball 2½–3 ft (76–91 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Cornel Ball 3½–4 ft (107–122 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Crossfield Ebony Pompon 3½ ft (107 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Gallery Singer Informal decorative (estimated) 12 in (30 cm) 9–11 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Karma Choc Waterlily 3½ ft (107 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Kasasagi Pompon 3½ ft (107 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Lights Out Formal decorative 3½ ft (107 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Nicholas Informal decorative 4 ft (122 cm) 8–10 Late summer, Fall Full sun
Nighty Night Formal decorative 4½ ft (137 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Spartacus Informal decorative 4½ ft (137 cm) 8–10 Late summer, Fall Full sun
Sunny Boy Ball 3½ ft (102 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Voodoo Formal decorative 4½ ft (137 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun
Wheels Collarette 4 ft (122 cm) 8–10 Midsummer, Late summer, Fall Full sun

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a deep red dahlia missing from this page?

We record burgundy and near-black as separate colors from red. A wine-red or chocolate-red variety is recorded as burgundy, so this page stays with dahlias a seller describes as red.

Will these dahlias survive winter in the ground?

Only in mild areas. 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 them before a hard freeze; the tops may die back from a light frost first. Our bulb calendar gives both dates for your ZIP code.

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