Dahlia

The American Dahlia Society's classification of Dahlias may be of interest for reference:

A. TRUE, FLUTED TYPE: Flowers fully double; floral rays ("petals") long, narrow, incurved or twisted, with sharp, divided, or fluted points and with revolute ("rolled back") margins, forming, in the outer florets, a more or less perfect tube for more than half the length of the ray.
Typical examples: Snowdon, T. G. Baker, Mrs. Douglas Fleming, J. H. Jackson, H. H. Thomas and Rev. T. W. Jamieson.

Flowers fully double; floral rays ("petals") short as compared with previous type, broad, flat, recurved or twisted, not sharply pointed except when tips are divided ("staghorn"), margins only slightly revolute ("rolled back"), and tubes of outer florets, if any, less than half the length of the ray.
Typical examples: Master Carl, Perle de Lyon, Flora, Mrs. J. T. Mace, Kalif and Rheinkoenig.

Double flowers, full to center in early season, flat rather than ball-shaped, with broad, flat, somewhat loosely arranged floral rays ".petals") with broad points or rounded tips which are straight or decurved (turned down or back), not incurved, and with margins revolute (rolled back) if rolled at all.
Includes forms like those of Souvenir de Gustave Douzon, Jeanne Gharmet, Le Grand Manitou, Delice, Lyndhurst and Bertha Von Suttner, but does not include Le Golosse, Mrs. Roosevelt, Dreer's White, Grand Duke Alexis or similar forms, which fall into section B. of the ball-shaped double Dahlias.

A. SHOW TYPE: Double flowers, globular or ball-shaped rather than broad or flat, full to center, showing regular spiral arrangement of florets; floral rays more or less quilled or with markedly involute (rolled in) margins and rounded tips.
(The class called Fancy Dahlias is not recognized separately in this classification, but is included in this Sub-section A.)
Typical examples of Show Dahlias: Arabella, Dorothy Peacock, Gold Medal, John Walker, Colonist and A. D. Livoni.
B. HYBRID SHOW, GIANT SHOW OR COLOSSAL TYPE: Flowers fully double, broadly hemi-spherical to flatly globular in form, loosely built so spiral arrangement of florets is not immediately evident; floral rays ("pet- als") broad, heavy, cupped or quilled, with rounded tips and involute (rolled in or forward) margins.
Typical examples: Grand Duke Alexis, Cuban Giant, Mrs. Roose- velt, Le Colosse, W. W. Rawson and Golden West.
G. POMPON TYPE: Shape and color may be same as of A. or B.; but must be under two inches in diameter.
Typical examples: Fairy Queen, Belle of Springfield, Darkest of All, Nerissa, Little Herman and Snowclad.

Semi-double flowers with open center, the inner floral rays ("petals") being usually curled or twisted, the other or outer petals being either flat or more or less irregular. Typical examples: Queen Wilhelmina, Geisha, Hampton Court, Mrs. W. Kerr, P. W. Janssen, and Glory of Baarn.

Semi-double flowers, with center always exposed on opening'of bud, with petals in more than one row, more than 12, long and flat, or broad and rounded, not noticeably twisted or curled. (Many so-called Peony-flowered Dahlias belong here.)
Typical examples: Big Chief, Souv. de Franz Listz, Merry Widow, Sensation, Prairie Fire and Hortulanus Budde.

Open centered flowers, small to very large, with eight to twelve floral rays ("petals") more or less in one circle, margins often decurved (turned down or back). There are no distinctions as to colors. The type embraces the large Twentieth Century as well as the smaller English varieties.
Typical examples: White Century, Golden Century, Scarlet Century, Newport Marvel (of the large flowered forms); with Polly Eccles, Leslie Seale, Danish Cross and Ami Barillet (of the lesser flowered forms).
The Star singles and Cactus singles are omitted from'the present classification scheme as not being sufficiently numerous or well defined yet.

Open centered blossoms with not more than nine floral rays ("petals"), with one or more smaller rays, usually of a different color, from heart of each ray floret, making a collar about the disk.
Typical examples: Maurice Rivoire, Souvenir de Chabanne, Diadem, Orphee, Madame Poirier and Albert Maumene.

Flowers with one row of large floral rays ("petals") like single Dahlias, but with each disk flower producing small, tubular petals.
Includes such forms as those of Graziella, Mme. Chas. Molin, Claude Barnard and Mme. Pierre Dupont.

Small flowered, stellate fine petaled cactus Dahlias represented by Tom-tit, Mary, Nora, Minima. MIGNON OR TOM THUMB: Dwarf, bushy, single flowered Dahlias for edging. Typical example: Jules Closson.

A taller, more upright type than the Tom Thumb. Typical examples: Barlow's Bedder and Midget Improved.

Single or collarette Dahlias, with three distinct bands 'of color about center. Type hardly known hi America, but includes forms such as those of Cockade Espagnole

The Dahlia is typically Fall blooming and succeeds in any location where killing frosts do not come too early. If the plants are not seriously checked in their growth by frosts, they will usually bloom very nicely in most parts of New York State, New England and the Central West. The soils best adapted to Dahlias are those which are somewhat -sandy, but they will grow on heavy clay. The regions which are influenced more or less by the ocean, that is, where cool nights are prevalent, are perhaps the most noted for Dahlia growing, especially Long Island, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland and Massachusetts in the East, and without a doubt the best Dahlias we have ever seen were in British Columbia, Northern California, Washington and Oregon. Heavy soils may be lightened by coal ashes. Sand and lighter soils will benefit by manure to make them more moisture-retaining. Nitrogenous fertilizers are rarely applied, because they cause too great vegetative growth and a retarding of the flowering period.

The tubers should be started about April 1st in a warm, light room, merely placing them in a shallow box of sand or light soil. When the young shoots begin to show, they should be so cut that one or two eyes are allowed to remain on each piece; the eyes start from the collar.

If the soil is carefully and diligently cultivated there will be little need for watering, which is detrimental unless consistently practised. Thorough watering should be given each time and at regular intervals; otherwise plants will be checked and flowers will suffer.
In order that each individual flower may be as large as possible, especially in the case of the show and fancy types, which produce a great many flowers of medium size, it is best to disbud the main branches leaving only the terminal bud. It is often best to allow only six or eight branches. The singles, collarettes and pompons are rarely pruned or disbudded, the idea being to get plants with as many flowers as possible. The cactus varieties are apt to have their weak neck habit intensified by excessive pruning and disbudding, so that they should be cautiously disbudded, removing only part of the buds.
Flowers are best cut in the morning or evening and any foliage not wanted should be removed. The stems should then be placed in water up to the base of the flowers and removed to a cool place. Hard-stemmed varieties are best placed in hot water and allowed to remain until the water cools, when they should be removed to fresh cold water. Under no circumstances attempt to ship for exhibition without the pre-cooling.

Dahlias will always make a successful appeal to the affections of the amateur gardener, first because of the comparative simplicity of its culture, but chiefly because, at a period of the year when the summer denizens of the flower garden are beginning to bear traces of wear and tear, and are preparing either for their winter rest or their demise, the dahlia is just coming into bloom.

If the weather be at all propitious, there is a certainty that it will produce a wealth of gorgeous flowers over a period of many weeks, and that it will help to make the early autumn garden gay until the first severe frost pronounces its doom.
For the purposes of classification the dahlia family may be divided into six sections.

These are: (1) cactus, (2) show and decorative, (3) paeony-flowered, (4) pompon, (5) single, (6) Tom Thumb. A moderate-sized volume could be filled in enumerating the thousands of varieties that are included in growers' catalogues, but for the guidance of the amateur gardener it will be sufficient to indicate in the following tables a few of the newest varieties worthy of his attention, as well as those that are suitable for exhibition, if he entertains ambitions in that direction.

There are three principal methods of propagating the dahlia, as follows :
(1) By seed sowing,
(2) By cuttings.
(3) By division.

This is fascinating work, particularly the single forms. Of these, if the seed is sown in a frame or greenhouse in March, the plants will come into bloom in July; they will also flower if the seed is sown where it is to remain, the same as most of the annuals. The seed of the double Dahlias should be sown in February or March, and the plants grown on the same as if from cuttings.
With good care they will come into flower early in September, when the pleasure commences. The certainty of getting something good, and the possibility of getting a flower worthy a name, possibly better than any of the existing forms or varieties, makes this branch of floriculture more interesting than any other.
The young seedlings should be set close together, not more than two feet apart; when they come into flower weed out such as are not desirable to keep. Another reason for close planting is that the plants do not attain in their first season as large growth as if from tubers. This does not apply to the single forms, which reach their limit of size the first season.


see Propagating dahlia for extensive Dahlia propagation instructions.

If the best results are to be obtained dahlias will require a little careful attention throughout the summer. Towards the end of July the plants will be growing rapidly, and this is the time to thin out the shoots. If large, handsome flowers are desired, and especially if the grower has any intention of exhibiting, it will be sufficient to confine the plant to one main stem. Nearly all the side shoots should be removed. Moreover, as soon as the early flower buds appear they should be rigorously thinned, and at this stage liquid manure may be given to the plants at each alternate watering. A further aid in increasing the productivity of flowers may be found in liberal mulchings of short, decomposed manure.

The dahlia requires plenty of room, and therefore, while not discarding it altogether for the purposes of the mixed border, I find that it pays to devote a bed of considerable size exclusively to its cultivation. The soil is well prepared beforehand. Very soon after the last clump of tubers has been lifted in the autumn the ground is deeply dug, and the surface left rough during the winter, so that the atmosphere may do its part in fertilising and sweetening the soil. In March the ground is again dug over and broken up, and at the same tune a good quantity of rich stable manure is incorporated with the soil. A week or so before planting-out time circular holes two feet in diameter and eighteen inches deep are dug out, a few forkfuls of manure are placed in the bottom of the hole, and covered with fine soil.

When the time comes for planting, a smaller hole, but one of sufficient size to take the base of roots comfortably, should be made with a trowel, and the dahlia carefully removed from the pot so as not to injure the roots. The plant, with the ball of earth attached, should then be inserted in the ground, adequate care being taken that the base of the roots rests firmly on the bottom of the hole prepared for it. Next the soil should be pressed round the roots, and a nice even surface be made.

They may be planted late in April or May, according to the season. It is better to set them out late than too early. As the Dahlia makes a large plant it should be given plenty of room; even four feet by four feet is not too much if the variety is a large one. Planted much closer the plants are difficult to tend.

Use some method of support immediately when the plants are set so that they may be "brought up in the way they should go" from the very start. The average root will make several shoots.
Allow them to grow until they make the first set of leaves; by that time the strongest can be selected and the others cut away below the surface of the soil. Sometimes two shoots may be allowed to grow, but never more; as a rule one shoot is sufficient. Tie the shoot to the stake when about a foot high and do not neglect tying as the plant develops, for this is very important.

Staking is an important operation, and this should be done at the same time as the planting. Use good stout stakes. The dahlia is a heavy plant, and needs to be safeguarded adequately against the buffeting of high winds. Thrust the stake a foot or so into the ground, as near as possible to the roots of the plant without damaging them, and then securely tie the main stem to the stake with bass or raffia tape.

It will be necessary also to keep a sharp look-out for the earwig one of the most persistent enemies of the dahlia. The commonest and not the least effectual method of trapping them is to fill small flower-pots with hay, and place them, inverted, on the top of the stakes to which the plants are tied. The pots should be examined every morning and the earwigs shaken out on the garden path and destroyed.

With the arrival of the first sharp frost in autumn the glory of the dahlia will depart. You will wake up one fine crisp morning in late October, to find your dahlia flowers hanging limp, and the stems a seared and blackened mass. Then the question arises, What shall be done with the tubers that have been formed at the base of the plants ?

The grower is naturally anxious to save them for purposes of propagation in the following spring, and if he have had no previous experience in the cultivation of dahlias he very naturally desires to know whether it is safe to leave them in the ground throughout the winter months. As a general rule for most parts of the country I should strongly advise against running the risk of disaster, which the leaving of the tubers in the ground involves.
The dahlia is not a hardy plant, though it is a perennial. The newly-formed tubers at the base of the plant are succulent and sappy, and if they be left undisturbed in the ground a prolonged spell of frost will ruin them. They will become blackened masses, and will rot away. In warm and unexposed places it may be possible to preserve dahlia roots in the ground during a mild winter by covering their resting-place with a good thick layer of littery manure or ashes ; but if it is desired to maintain the stock the risk is too great to be run even when these precautions are adopted.
What, then, is the best plan to follow ? As soon as the first severe frost has blackened the stems they should be cut down to within six inches of their bases. Next with a spade cut niches six or eight inches deep round the extremity of the tubers. This will facilitate the process of lifting, which should be done with the utmost care, so as to avoid either cutting or bruising the tubers.
As each plant is lifted tie to one of the stem stumps a stout label bearing a legible record of the name and colour of the variety. It is essential that this be done, otherwise there will be endless confusion when the time comes in the next year to begin the operation of propagation.


When all the plants have been lifted and labelled carefully spread them out on a mat or a piece of sacking on the floor of a dry, frost-proof shed or greenhouse. Here they should be allowed to remain for a few weeks until they are thoroughly dry. Afterwards they may be further cleaned by the removal of any superfluous soil that still remains attached to the roots, and they should then be placed in deep boxes, and covered lightly with sand or dry moss.
The chief essential now is to keep the tubers away from all possibility of damp and frost reaching them. Therefore a bad practice should be avoided at all costs. This is to place the tubers under a greenhouse bench, where they will inevitably be " damped off " if the drip due to watering plants above them be allowed to fall continually upon them. If there be no greenhouse accommodation for the storage of the tubers they may be placed with perfect safety in a dry cellar or loft. Here they should be allowed to remain until February, when the time for propagation by means of cuttings will have arrived.

Learn how to Lift Dahlias
First, cut down the foliage, and dig carefuly around roots with a spade, and lift the root. Place tubers on a mat to dry.

Clean the roots and store in sand in deep boxes in a cool place (not below 4 degrees celcius!). Make sure you label the tubers carefully.
The common but slovenly practice of heaping up the tubers under a greenhouse staging, where they may damp off, should be avoided When the Autumn killing frosts arrive, perhaps in mid-October, and the foliage is killed, take up the plants and allow them to dry a little in the sun. Cut off the old stems so that a stub of three inches is left. Then place them in a cellar where temperature will surely remain above freezing, about forty to forty-five degrees F.
They may best be placed with the stems down on shelves and covered with soil or sand. With large tubers it will be unnecessary to cover them; merely place them in a heap on shelf or floor, keeping the stems to outside. Do not let them get dried out; if they shrivel, sprinkle a little water over them. If kept too moist they soon mildew.

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