Workhorse Dahlias
Dahlias—everyone wants to grow this amazing flower! I can’t blame them—I want to grow all the dahlias too. Each year, I’m tempted to try new varieties or hunt down the hard-to-get ones. They’re all so beautiful!
As a flower farmer, we grow close to 20,000 dahlias each year on our farm. Our fields are filled with blooms in shades of white, orange, pink, purple, red, and deep burgundy, each with its own unique shape and style. When the dahlia field is in full bloom, there’s nothing better. The hum of pollinators moving from flower to flower, combined with the sight of my team and me harvesting thousands of stems, creates a truly magical experience. There’s something incredibly rewarding about growing a flower that requires year-round care and then witnessing its stunning beauty in full bloom.
As a wholesale cut flower farm, we follow strict guidelines when selecting the dahlia varieties we grow. Each variety must:
Be highly productive.
Have strong stems.
Make a good cut flower.
Grow into a sturdy plant.
Produce quality tubers.
Store well over the winter.
If a dahlia doesn’t meet these requirements, we remove it from our program—even if it’s the most beautiful variety we’ve ever grown. We’re not just growing dahlias for their beauty; we’re growing them to run a profitable farm. That’s why we tend to stick with tried-and-true varieties instead of chasing the latest "unicorn" dahlia that just hit the market.
We don’t have time to experiment with every new variety to see if it meets our standards. I let other growers test them out first. Then, if I believe a new dahlia is worth adding to our already extensive collection, I’ll consider it. Even then, it takes years to build up enough stock of a single variety to make it worthwhile for both bloom and tuber sales. This is one reason why dahlias—both the flowers and the tubers—can be expensive.
Here are some of our top "workhorse" varieties—the ones we’ve grown for years because they meet all our qualifications for a productive, reliable dahlia on our cut flower farm.
Our Top Workhorse Dahlias
These dahlia varieties have proven themselves year after year on our farm. They are highly productive, have strong stems, and make excellent cut flowers—all essential qualities for a flower farmer. If you're looking for reliable, hardworking dahlias, these are our go-to varieties:
Ball & Pompon Dahlias (Perfectly shaped, long-lasting, and productive.)
Cornel – A deep red ball dahlia that’s one of the most productive varieties we grow.
Cornel Bronze – A rich bronze-orange ball dahlia, perfect for autumn arrangements.
Ivanetti – A deep purple ball dahlia with excellent productivity and strong stems.
Isabel – A lovely mix of pink and purple toned blooms, very productive and strong stems.
Hollyhill Miss White – A crisp white decorative dahlia with a hint of lavender that’s a florist favorite.
Lavender Ball – A soft lilac-colored ball dahlia, great for adding variety to bouquets.
Camano Mordor – A dark, sultry red with yellow mixed into every bloom.
Decorative Dahlias (Lush, full blooms that shine in bouquets and event work.)
Rock Run Ashley – A standout with warm soft peachy tones and strong stems.
Peaches N’ Cream – A striking bicolor variety with peach and cream petals.
Sylvia – A warm orange ball dahlia that pumps out blooms all season long.
Pink Sylvia – The pink version of Sylvia, just as productive and reliable.
Ali Oop – A fun, frilly red variety with unique petal shapes.
Blizzard – A stunning, white dahlia with a clean, classic look.
Boom Boom White – A round, full white dahlia that produces abundantly.
Spartacus
Large & Showy Dahlias (For dramatic, statement-making blooms.)
Spartacus – A bold, deep red dinnerplate dahlia with ruffled petals.
Jowey Marilyn – A stunning deep purple dahlia with perfect form.
Unique & Specialty Dahlias (Quirky, playful, and eye-catching.)
Coral Assorted – A mix of vibrant coral dahlias that brighten up any arrangement.
A La Mode – A unique white dahlia with orange-tipped petals, adding a fun pop of color.
These tried-and-true varieties have earned their place in our dahlia fields. Whether you’re a flower farmer, a florist, or a home gardener looking for productive, high-quality dahlias, these varieties are sure to deliver!
Rock Run Ashley
Growing dahlias is an incredibly rewarding experience, but choosing the right varieties can make all the difference—especially for cut flower growers. The dahlias we grow on our farm have proven themselves season after season, delivering high yields, strong stems, and reliable tuber production. While it’s always tempting to chase after the newest, rarest varieties, we’ve found that sticking with tried-and-true "workhorse" dahlias is the key to success.
Whether you're a flower farmer, a florist, or a passionate home gardener, investing in productive, high-performing dahlias will ensure you get the most beauty and value out of your growing season. If you’re looking to add reliable varieties to your garden, these dahlias won’t disappoint!
