International classification of varieties of dahlia description and characteristics of species
Breeders of many countries of the world are working on the creation of new varieties of dahlias, there are already several tens of thousands of them. Florists use classifiers to navigate this variety of colors. When choosing a variety, they resort to using the international classification (IDR) or are limited to a simplified version.
General description of dahlia
The first description of the culture is dated 1791. Antonio Cavanilles named this plant variety Dahlia. Its current name, dahlias, was born in Russia. They were brought to our country in 1803.
The genus of spray dahlias is part of the Astrov family. In nature, a herbaceous perennial grows in Central America. In winter, the soil does not freeze there, therefore, during the dormant period, the aboveground part dies off, the tubers hibernate without problems.
In the temperate climate of Russia, dahlia tubers are dug up for the winter and planted in the spring. The stems of the plant are hollow inside, smooth outside. Their height depends on the species, can reach 2-2.5 m. The leaves are pinnate, paired with serrated edges and pointed ends.
A dahlia flower is a basket-shaped inflorescence, consisting of several elements:
- marginal ligulate flowers;
- fruiting tubular flowers;
- inflorescence bed;
- wrappers;
- pedicels.
The color of the petals has a wide variety of shades. After flowering, fruits are formed - achenes. Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. Perennial and annual varieties are popular in floriculture.
What color are they?
When drawing up garden compositions, color plays an important role. Plants with dark flowers are planted in the foreground, and with light flowers in the back. For your garden, you can choose a variety of dahlias of any color.
White
For lovers of the classics, varieties with white flowers are suitable. At night, the garden with snow-white flower beds, illuminated by lanterns, looks amazing. The White Perfection variety is considered a classic. The size of the snow-white baskets reaches 20 cm.The bushes are high - 1.1 m.
The undersized White Star is suitable for ridges and borders. Bushes 0.6 m high in July are covered with snow-white baskets (diameter 15 cm). Needle petals, ligulate. White Star blooms before the cold weather.
Dahlia Boom Boom White pleases with regular spherical inflorescences resembling white balls. The middle of the flower has a light creamy shade. The diameter of the flowers is 10 cm, the height of the bush is 0.9 m. Boom Boom White blooms from June to October.
Yellow
To cheer up the garden, you need yellow. It calms down, adjusts to serious work. Popular varieties with yellow basket inflorescences:
- The Grand Prix. The bushes are high - 1 m. Terry baskets, large - 25 cm.
- Pinto. Dahlia from the group of midgets. It is used as a container culture. Grown on the balcony. The height of the bushes does not exceed 35 cm. Bright yellow baskets with a diameter of 10 cm look especially impressive on them.
- Anchor. Cactus-like variety with large terry inflorescences (20 cm) 0.9-1.2 m high.
Red
Red in the garden helps a person to focus on solving serious problems. It invigorates, increases activity. You can create a bright spot with red dahlias. Among them, the Apache dahlia deserves special attention.
She has massive, tall bushes (0.9-1 m), double inflorescences, consisting of bright red needle-like flowers, the diameter of which reaches 15 cm.
The variety Garner Wonder is striking in its beauty. This is a decorative dahlia with burgundy-red spherical baskets, their diameter does not exceed 15 cm.The height of the bush is 0.7-1 m.
Pink
Pink goes well with all shades of green. Pink dahlias are appropriate in a romantic garden. It is not difficult to choose a variety with pink inflorescences. Here are three different species:
- Sandra (spherical);
- Princess Park (cactus);
- Jewel Pink (pompom).
Purple
Purple should be in moderation. It creates a sense of wealth. Figaro Violet Shades from the Figaro Mix series amazes with the luxury of purple-crimson flowers. Dahlia bushes are low (35 cm), they are used to decorate borders, planted in the foreground of flower beds. In a sunny place, Figaro blooms until late autumn. The annual dahlia is propagated by seeds.
Orange
Psychotherapists believe that orange improves mood. It's nice to have an antidepressant flower bed with orange dahlia bushes in the garden. The Dutch variety Maxim is suitable for this purpose. It appeared on the market recently.
The color of small baskets (10-15 cm) is bright, orange-red with a yellow border. They decorate flower beds and bouquets. Lovers of bright shades will find the Babylon Bronze dahlia from the Babylon range.
Lilac
A monochrome composition can be created from lilac dahlias. The variety "My Dream" amazes with delicate lilac inflorescences with slightly curled petals. For a lilac flower bed, varieties are suitable:
- Leela;
- Purple Pearl;
- Lilac night.
Burgundy
Burgundy dahlias look luxurious in a bouquet and on a flower bed. In compositions, they go well with colors of orange, red, purple, bright yellow. Of interest are the varieties:
- Black Prince;
- Arabian Knight;
- Flight;
- Karma Shock.
Dahlia classification
It is difficult to navigate in a huge number of varieties, so growers divide them into groups. For classification, characteristics are used: the size and shape of the inflorescence, the height of the bush.
Grouping by inflorescence size
All types of dahlias are divided into 5 groups according to the diameter of the inflorescences. The smallest baskets do not exceed 10 cm, and the largest ones reach 30 cm.
Giant
The size of the baskets is 25 cm and more. Care for these species is special. In order for the inflorescences to reach the required size, lateral shoots and lower leaves are removed from the leaf sinuses.
Large
For large-flowered dahlias, such as Dana, Vancouver, Kelvin, an average bush height (1-1.2 m) and large baskets with a diameter of 20.3-25.4 cm are characteristic.
Average
Varieties with baskets from 15 to 20 cm belong to the group of medium-sized inflorescences. They are in great demand among flower growers. They are planted in 1 or 2 rows, forming a hedge, they are covered with nondescript garden structures and fences. For the new collection, you can purchase varieties:
- Lucky;
- Edinburgh;
- Akita;
- Madame Peak.
Small
Unpretentious varieties with small baskets 10-15 cm are no less relevant. There are excellent small dahlias of domestic and Dutch selection on sale. They are not inferior in beauty to large-flowered dahlias.
Miniature
Mini dahlias are adorable. They are used to decorate balconies, loggias, terraces. Compact bushes, covered with small baskets (less than 10 cm), beautifully frame garden paths and flower beds. The Vancouver variety with miniature inflorescences is popular among flower growers.
Grouping by height
Classification of varieties by bush height is very important for flower growers. Professionals to create a flower garden carry out accurate calculations, build drawings. Lovers proceed from the varietal characteristics and the recommended planting scheme.
Tall curbs
Tall dahlias with bushes above 1.2 m are planted in mixborders, rabatki, tapeworms. They are planted in the center of the flower bed, near the hedge. This group of plants requires support during flowering.
Medium-sized curbs
Medium-sized varieties include dahlias with bushes 0.8-1 m high. The most popular varieties in this group:
- Calvin Floodlight with large (30 cm) yellow baskets;
- Genova, its inflorescences (15 cm) are painted in lavender color;
- Abundantly blooming Yellow Jill with brown-red baskets (15 cm).
Stunted curb
Low bushes up to 60 cm high and dwarf dahlias (20-40 cm) are grown in flower beds and in containers. The Dutch variety series Gallery is represented by 19 dwarf varieties with double baskets of yellow, lilac, salmon colors. The series deserve attention:
- Melody;
- Mignon;
Flower beds
Low-growing species are planted along the edge of the flower beds: pompom and annual, propagating by seeds. Summer residents plant old popular varieties on flower beds, such as Cheerful guys. New items with double and semi-double inflorescences of different shades are suitable for a collectible flower bed:
- Claire de Luna;
- Myrtle Folly;
- Table Dancer.
Lilliputians
The Liliput Dahilas group unites low-growing varieties, whose stems do not exceed 30 cm in height. The flowers of this group of dahlias have different shapes. Lilliputian varieties are popular with gardeners. They decorate the borders of park paths, rabatok, flower beds with compact bushes.
International classification of dahlias
In 1962, botanists from around the world gathered in Brussels to determine uniform classification methods. In 1969 the classifier was published. It works now. New varieties are introduced after registration with the RNS (International Registrar).
Simple
Inflorescences are not terry, 10 cm in diameter. Petals are arranged in 1 row. The height of the bushes is 0.7 m. Plants of the Sihgle-flowered group bloom profusely throughout the summer. They are usually propagated by seed. Simple dahlias are used for foreground decoration.
Anemone
Anemone-flowered varieties are disease resistant, very decorative. The shape of the terry (semi-double) inflorescences resemble garden anemones. The petals of the middle part are tubular. They are surrounded by 1-3 rows of marginal petals. Bushes come in different heights - from 0.3 m to 0.8 m.
Collar
The inflorescences of Collerette Dahlias dahlias have a pronounced, convex core, surrounded by petals arranged in 2 rows:
- large outdoor;
- shortened internal.
The diameter of the inflorescences is 15 cm, the height of the bush is 1 m.
Peony
Semi-double baskets of peony perennials are formed by several rows of large oval petals. They surround a small central yellow disc. The diameter of the baskets is 10-20 cm, the bushes reach a height of 0.6-1.2 m.
Decorative
The representatives of this group have 2 types of petals. There are Decorative Dahlias varieties with regular, flat, rounded petals and others with wavy, as if deformed. In diameter, double inflorescences reach 10-20 cm, bushes grow up to 1-1.5 m.
Spherical
The diameter of the baskets in spherical varieties is 10-20 cm. Terry baskets are similar in shape to a ball.The petals of the Ball Dahlias dahlias are twisted 50-75% of their length.
Pompom
Bushes 0.3-1.2 m high are covered with large leaves. The baskets look like a slightly flattened ball, they are small - up to 7 cm. All petals have the same length and are curled into tubes. Low-growing varieties of Pompon Dahlias decorate the borders. Medium-sized forms are used in group garden plantings.
Cactus
Terry inflorescences, needle-like, 7-35 cm in diameter. Narrow petals are twisted for most of the length (65%). They are either straight, like Alain Mimoun, or curved, like Sarah Mae. Bushes of the cactus (Cactus Dahlias) dahlias are tall. Shoots grow up to 1.2-1.8 m.
Semi-cactus
The Semi-Cactus group includes forms that have characteristics similar to other species (decorative, cactus). Baskets are densely double, in cross-section from 5 to 25 cm. They consist of wide, pointed petals, twisted 25-50% of their length. The plants of the Semi-Cactus group reach 0.4-1.3 m in height.
Nymphae
There are more than a thousand varieties in the nymphaean (Waterlily Dahlias) group. All of them have lotus-shaped inflorescences, terry type. They are of the correct shape, outwardly reminiscent of a water lily flower. Size 10-25 cm. Height of nymphaean varieties 0.9-1.2 m.
Mixed
Miscellaneous includes rare forms that are not of commercial interest. In amateur gardens, they are common. Varieties from the mixed group delight flower growers with spectacular flowering, they are divided into 4 varieties:
- star-shaped;
- chrysanthemum;
- orchid;
- peony.
Popular varieties
Varietal dahlias with different characteristics of bushes and inflorescences are in demand among flower growers. A description of the best varieties will facilitate the selection. The selection includes plants of different classification groups. All are suitable for cutting.
Spartacus Bohemian
Tall (1.5 m) variety from the group of decorative dahlias. Spartak blooms in July, flowering lasts until frost. This is a perennial, it forms impressive inflorescences - 25-30 cm. The petals have an original color: bright yellow stripes on a cherry background.
Fleur
Fleur is the best in the Waterlily Dahlias group. It is grown for cutting. The plant is tall, the length of the stems is 1.2 m. The type of inflorescence is terry, the size is 25 cm. The petals have a snow-white color. The plant blooms on July 10-15.
Maxi
This is a variety series, it includes tall (1-1.2 m) cactus, semi-cactus ornamental varieties with the same flowering times, in July-September. The series includes spectacular varieties with large inflorescences (30 cm). Dahlias Maxi are intended for flower beds, flower beds.
Merluza
Dahlia Merluza belongs to the decorative group, its height is 1 m. She has lush, terry baskets with a diameter of 15 cm, consisting of twisted yellow petals with red tips. The Merluza variety blooms from July to September.
Red Pigmy
Semi-cactus variety. Perennial blooms from July to October. The color of the baskets is red, the size is 10-12 cm, the peduncles are good in cutting. Red Pigmy bushes are not high (0.3-0.4 m), they are used to decorate balconies, patios, planted in flower beds and in pots.
Joan of Arc
A cactus variety 1.2 m high. The middle is pale yellow, feathery petals are lavender-pink. Baskets are medium, up to 18 cm in diameter. The variety will decorate the garden, it is recommended to plant it in flower beds. Peduncles are used when making bouquets.
Gloria
A tall variety of cactus dahlias. Gloria's height is 1.4 m. Old variety (1964), bred in Germany. The diameter of the graceful baskets is 15-20 cm. The color of the petals is pink.
Mignon
Propagated by seeds. Flowering lasts from July 10-15 to October. Mignon is a series of low dahlias (0.45 m) of different colors - from white to lilac. Garden beds are decorated with compact bushes, they are grown in pots on the loggia.
Volatile
This is a mixture of seeds of several types of dahlia (cactus, pompom). Plants of this series bloom from August 10-15 until cold weather.
Aloha
Cactus variety. The height of the Aloha dahlia is 0.8-1 m. The type of baskets is terry, they are large with long, narrow petals of bright yellow color, with the tips of a fiery red hue. The variety blooms profusely, until frost.
Duet
This is an American variety. It is considered decorative. It was taken out in 1955. He has medium (16 cm) brightly colored baskets with dark cherry-colored petals. They are white at the ends. The bushes are high (1.1 m).
Almandz Joy
Peduncles of Almandz Joy are suitable for cutting. Delicate lilac flowers are an excellent decoration for a bouquet. Terry baskets are large (30 cm). Almandz Joy is used in group garden compositions. The height of the bush is average - 0.9 m.
Mystery Day
Decorative variety with large (16-20 cm) terry baskets. The background color is burgundy, the tips of the flat petals are white. The bushes have a spreading shape, average height (0.8 m). Blooms from July to frost.
Freecolette
Dutch cactus species with bushes 1-1.2 m tall and bright scarlet baskets. The petals are narrow, needle-like. They have white strokes on a bright scarlet background. The size of the Fricolet baskets is 10-15 cm. Flowers bloom in July.
Arabian night
Spectacular wine-red baskets with a diameter of 15 cm. Bushes (0.8-1 m) are covered with large feathery leaves. Powerful flower stalks are good for cutting. The variety is widely used in landscape design. Dahlia Arabian night serves as a decoration for rabatki, group compositions.
Zoe Rae
Plant height 1.1-1.2 m. Zoe Ray is an ornamental dahlia variety. Inflorescence-baskets are vanilla-yellow with lilac edging of petals. The diameter of the basket is 15-20 cm. Flowering lasts from July to September.
Kenora Macob
Bushes 1-1.2 m tall are covered with small dark green leaves. In July, dark red flowers bloom on them, their diameter is 15-18 cm. Kenora Makob is an ornamental variety that blooms until frost.
In the garden, you need to plant several dahlia bushes with baskets of different colors and shapes. Their long bloom will delight you until late autumn.
