Dahlia Categories
Some of the most common questions in the run up to the show day are about the categories of Dahlia. Hopefully this page will answer some of your questions!
Giant and Large Dahlias
Giant dahlias produce flowers usually over 250mm (10″) in diameter and can be up to 380mm (15″).
Large dahlia varieties have flowers between 200mm (8″) and 250mm (10″) in diameter.
For exhibition dahlia varieties classed as large must not exceed 260mm.
Giant dahlias produce flowers usually over 250mm (10″) in diameter and can be up to 380mm (15″).
Large dahlia varieties have flowers between 200mm (8″) and 250mm (10″) in diameter.
For exhibition dahlia varieties classed as large must not exceed 260mm.
Small and Miniature Decorative Dahlias
Small flowered decorative dahlia usually produce flowers 100-150mm (4-6″) across.
Miniature flowered decorative dahlia are usually between 50 and 100mm (2-4″) across.
For exhibition purposes they must not exceed 170mm and 115mm respectively.
Medium Decorative Dahlias
Good sized dahlia flowers can be achieved by allowing 6-8 blooms to develop on each plant.
Flowers usually between 150mm (6″) and 210mm (8″) diameter.
For exhibition they must not exceed 220mm.
Small and Miniature Cactus and Semi Cactus Dahlias
Small varieties produce flowers from 100-150mm (4-6″) in diameter.
For exhibition must not exceed 170mm.
Miniature flowers up to 115mm (4″), for exhibition not to exceed 115mm.
Medium Cactus and Semi Cactus Dahlias
Good sized dahlia flowers can be achieved by allowing 6-8 blooms to develop on each plant.
Flowers normally between 150mm (6″) and 210mm (8″) in diameter.
For exhibition they must not exceed 220mm.
Small varieties produce flowers from 100-150mm (4-6″) in diameter.
For exhibition must not exceed 170mm.
Miniature flowers up to 115mm (4″), for exhibition not to exceed 115mm.
Medium Cactus and Semi Cactus Dahlias
Good sized dahlia flowers can be achieved by allowing 6-8 blooms to develop on each plant.
Flowers normally between 150mm (6″) and 210mm (8″) in diameter.
For exhibition they must not exceed 220mm.
Collerette Dahlias
Collerette Dahlias have flowers with a single ring outer ring of generally flat petals (ray florets) with a ring of smaller petals (florets) forming a collar.
The open centred dahlia flowers are hugely attractive to all types of pollinators.
Collerette Dahlias have flowers with a single ring outer ring of generally flat petals (ray florets) with a ring of smaller petals (florets) forming a collar.
The open centred dahlia flowers are hugely attractive to all types of pollinators.
Small and Miniature Ball Dahlias Dahlias
These dahlia varieties all have flowers of pompon formation, but larger.
Up to 100mm (4″) diameter for miniature ball and 100-150mm (4-6″) for small balls.
For exhibition purposes miniature flowered varieties must not exceed 115mm and small flowered varieties must not exceed 170mm.
Pompom Dahlias
The flowers of these dahlia varieties all have round honeycomb formation and, for exhibition, must not exceed 52mm in diameter except on the case of
Large poms which should not exceed 75mm.
These dahlia varieties all have flowers of pompon formation, but larger.
Up to 100mm (4″) diameter for miniature ball and 100-150mm (4-6″) for small balls.
For exhibition purposes miniature flowered varieties must not exceed 115mm and small flowered varieties must not exceed 170mm.
Pompom Dahlias
The flowers of these dahlia varieties all have round honeycomb formation and, for exhibition, must not exceed 52mm in diameter except on the case of
Large poms which should not exceed 75mm.
