Start thinking now about spring purchases BEST DAHLIA VARIETY FOR 50 YEARS

By Hugh Earnhart

OSU Extension master gardener volunteer

During the Mexican War (1846-1848), Americans discovered two new plants, the poinsettia and the dahlia. The former plant quickly became a popular Christmas flower, while the imposing dahlia played second fiddle to the short-bedding dahlia that was popular for border gardens because of its hardy and season-long blooming.

Over the last century, hybridizers have developed the huge dinner-plate-size blooms down to the small blooms. Once they start blooming in the summer, there is a prolonged parade of flowers until frost. The dahlia is a perennial-forming, tuberous root that can be dug and stored in USDA zones that have ground freezing conditions during the winter season.

Dahlias grow 1 to 5 feet tall and come in 15 color combinations, with no blue flowers. The American Dahlia Society has classified the flower by type and size. They are sun lovers, but will tolerate partial shade. They like organic matter at their feet, soil that is well drained and a balanced fertilizer on which to feed. Because they abide in almost every type of soil, they can be found in a variety of countries around the world.

The dahlia is one of the longest flowering plants in today’s garden. The longevity for blooming makes it a well-liked flower for the cut flower trade, landscaping, container growing and flower shows. Horticulturists have discovered within the last three decades the vast appeal of the dahlia that grew “wild and crazy” on the hillsides of Central America. Some thousand dahlia varieties have been named, grown, registered and maybe forgotten over the years. The ADS, which is 100 this year, has selected Edna C the best dahlia of the past 50 years. In the society’s first 50 years, Jersey’s Beauty held that distinction. Edna C is a jewel. Wildly grown by “blue ribbon chasers,” it was introduced in 1968. It is one of the most popular dahlias grown for show today. The bloom is 6 to 8 inches in size and yellow in color, with decorative petals. It is a superior cut flower.

Jersey’s Beauty is also a 6- to 8-inch flower with decorative petals. It is soft pink in color. For a number of years, this easy-to-grow variety was the standard for the show circuit. It was introduced in 1924.

The dahlia is currently at an all-time plateau because of the colors, flower forms and usage of the flower. If you are looking for additional information, there are four dahlia organizations in the region: the Mahoning Valley Dahlia Society (Youngstown), East Liverpool Dahlia Society (Columbiana County), Greater Pittsburgh Dahlia Society and Dahlia Society of Ohio (Cleveland). Consider visiting or joining one of these groups to get help with growing and winning your own blue ribbons. From the small to the large dinner plates, you are destined to find a favorite!

For more information, visit www.mahoningvalleydahliasociety.org.