An Introduction to Heat Tolerant Dahlias

Jessica

A La Mode

Here in the northern hemisphere we are in the middle of winter. For gardeners this is the time to plan what the next growing season holds for us. We are undoubtedly receiving seed and vegatable catalogs and we spend many an hour dreaming of future success while perusing these catalogs.
The world of Dahlias is no exception. I’m often asked for suggested varieties to grow and depending on the climate of the grower, I try to match recommendations to their garden’s environment.

Dahlias originate in the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala. They enjoy cool nights and hot mid-days. There are, however, many varieties which have proven they can stand the heat of the day. In the case of the United States, anything east of the Rockies is fair game for periodic scorching mid-days. The plains of Canada can also have heat waves.

From over 30 years of growing and showing, I’ve compile a list of varieties which I have personaly grown and therefore recommend for those who want heat tolerant Dahlias. To further entice gardeners to try some from the list, I have included several photos of plants listed below and a gallery at the end of the article.

LISTING OF POPULAR HEAT TOLERANT DAHLIAS
* INDICATES MOST POPULAR & USUALLY EASIEST TO GROW
A-AA Size Dahlias 8” TO 12” bloom diameter
B Size Dahlias 6” TO 8” bloom diameter
BB Size Dahlias 4” TO 6” bloom diameter
M Size Dahlias 2” TO 4” bloom diameter
Ball Dahlias 3” TO 5” bloom diameter
Min Ball Dahlias 2” TO 3” bloom diameter
Water Lilly Dahlias
Open Centered Dahlias

(FD) Formal Decorative
(ID) Informal Decorative
(SC) Semi-Cactus
(A) Anemone
(C) Cactus
(CO) Collarette
(IC) Incurved Cactus
(S) Single

(LAC) Laciniated
(O) Orchid
(B) Ball
(MB) Miniature Ball
(P) Pompom
(ST) Steller
(WL) Waterlilly
(P) Peony

Plant Category and Name	Height (ft)	Plant Category and Name	Height (ft)
Miniature Sized Dahlias		Large Dahlias A-AA
Mary Hammettt FD-White*	3	Kelvin Floodlight FD-Yellow*	4
Allie Yellow FD-Yellow*	4	Clyde’s Choice FD-Orange	6
Rose Toscano FD-Orange	4	Bonadventure FD Golden	6
Rebecca Lynn FD-Pink*	4	Ivory Palaces ID-Light Yellow	5
Elizabeth-Hammett FD-Lavender*	4	Sam Houston ID-Orange*	6
L.A. T. E. FD-Light Blend	5	Wildman- SC- Red	4
Peaches-n-cream FD-L/B*	5	Zorro ID-Dark Red*	4
Brookside J Cooley ID-Y	5	Ben Houston ID-Orange*	4
G W’S Babe SC-LB*	4	Pennsgift ID-Lavender*	4
Brookside J. Cooley ID, Y	4	Inland Dynasty SC-Yellow*	6
		Clara Houston IC-Orange*	5
Waterlily Dahlias		HighlightervFD-Yellow*	6
Porcelain White*	4	Kidd’s Climax FD-Light Blend*	4
Cameo Yellow	4	Elise Houston ID-Pink*	6
Wildwood Marie Dark Pink*	5	Islander ID-Pink*	4
Innocence Light Blend W/L	4	Spartacus ID-Dark Red*	6
Taratahi Ruby, Red*	5	Kenora Jubilee SC-White*	4
Figurine Pink*	4	Verda SC-White*	3
		Janal Amy SC-Yellow*	4
Opened Centered Dahlias		Kenora Wildfire SC-Red*	5
Ferncliff Copper FD-Bronze*	6
Santa Claus FD-BI-Color*	5	Medium Sized Dahlias (B)
Camano Cloud SC-Pink*	4	Sterling Silver FD-White*	6
Just Peachy SC-Light Blend	5	Kenora Lisa FD-Pink	5
Brookside Cheri C-Pink*	6	Tara Brian FD-Red*	5
Taratahi Lilac C-Lavender*	5	Brian R FD-Purple*	4
Jessica C-Bi-Color Red/Yellow	6	Brandy Bay FD-DB, Orange/Yellow	6
My Beverly LC-Light Blend*	4	Lady Darlene FD Dark Blend	5
		Duet FD-BI-Color Red/White	4
Ball & Miniature Ball Sized Dahlias		Yuukyu ID-White*	6
Cornel Red*	5	Hamari Sunshine ID-Yellow*	5
Brookside Snowball White*	4	Campos Gigi FD-LB, Yellow/Red*	5
Bishop Ofllandaff PE, Dark Red		Camando Messenger IC-LB	5
Black Bat, S, Dark Red*	3	Jess LAC-Orange* (now a B)	5
Alpen Cherub, CO, White*	4	Poetic L-Light Blend W/Pink	4
Pooh CO BI-Color Yellow/Orang	5	Show & Tell L-Dark Blend Red/Yellow	6
Rembrandt MS, Dark Red*	2	April Dawn ID-Light Blend	4
Honka O, Yellow*	4	Bert Pitt ID-BI-Color Red/White*	4
Marie Schnugg O, Red*	5	Magic Moment ID-White*	5
		Hamari Accord SC-Yellow	5
BB Sized Dahlias		Kenora Sunset SC-Flame*	5
Lemon Zing FD-Yellow	5	A La Mode FD-Bi-Color Orange/White*	6
Hillcrest Kismet FD-Pink*	6	Allie White ID-White*	5
David George FD-Dark Red*	5	Woodlands Wildthing SC-Orange	5
Hy Clown FD-Light Blend*	4	Nenekazi LC-Light Blend*	5
Sugartown Sunrise* FD-LB	4	Bo-Bay SC, Light Blend Yellow/Lavender	4
Ferncliff Copper FD-Bronze*	6
Santa Claus FD-BI-Color*	5	Medium Sized Dahlias (B)
Camano Cloud SC-Pink*	4	Sterling Silver FD-White*	6
Just Peachy SC-Light Blend	5	Kenora Lisa FD-Pink	5
Brookside Cheri C-Pink*	6	Tara Brian FD-Red*	5
Taratahi Lilac C-Lavender*	5	Brian R FD-Purple*	4
Jessica C-Bi-Color Red/Yellow	6	Brandy Bay FD-DB, Orange/Yellow	6
My Beverly LC-Light Blend*	4	Lady Darlene FD Dark Blend	5
		Duet FD-BI-Color Red/White	4
Ball & Miniature Ball Sized Dahlias		Yuukyu ID-White*	6
Cornel Red*	5	Hamari Sunshine ID-Yellow*	5
Brookside Snowball White*	4	Campos Gigi FD-LB, Yellow/Red*	5
Hy Mallow Lavender	4
Snoho Peggy Pink*	5	Pompoms
Jeessee G, Purple*	5	Poppet, Orange	3
Senior Ball, Light Blend White/Lavender*	4	Lismore Moonlight, Yellow*	5
Roban Royal Purple	4	Willo Borealis Lavebder*	5
Downham Royal, Purple*	4	Valda, Purple	4

		Steller
		Camano Pet, Light Blend Yellow/Orange*	6
		Alloway Candy Pink	5

How to purchase these and other Dahlias
If you are internet active go to the Colorado Dahlia Society web site and click on the Dahlia suppiers link. Then click on the list of suppliers. This is an excellent site with many links and a big list of all Dahlias sold. It also provides information on sellers.

If you do not feel comfortable purchasing flowers on the internet, the following commercial growers will be happy to send you a catalog listing of their Dahlias. One or two may charge for the catalog but the cost will be applied towards the first order you place.

Dan’s Dahlias	994 South Bank Road	Oakville, WA 98569
JS Dahlias	57295 CR 35	Middlebury, IN 46540
Ferncliff Gardens	8502 McTaggert Street	Mission, BC V2V6S6, Cannada
Arrowhead Dahlias	PO Box 814	Platteville, CO 80651
Corralitos Gardens	295 Alitos Drive	Corralitos, CA 95076
Connell’s Dahlias	10616 Waller Road East	Tacoma, WA 98446
Hilltop Gardens	PO Box 1234	Cashiers, NC 28717
Swan Island Dahlias	PO Box 700	Canby, OR 97013
Hollyhill Dahlias	PO Box 151, 8440 Rice Valley Road	Yoncalla, OR 97499