Tried and True Dahlias I Will Always Grow
The Workhorse Varieties That Earn Their Space Year After Year
Every flower farmer has a list of dahlias they trust. These are the varieties that hold up through heat, storms, busy harvest weeks, and the chaos of late season. They bloom steadily, they give long stems, and they show up with the kind of strength and consistency you want from a cut flower crop.
This post is dedicated to the tried and true dahlias at Green Willow Gardens. Some of them have been with me for years and others won me over so quickly that I already know they will be part of the field for a long time. What they all have in common is simple. They are prolific bloomers with strong stems and blooms that face up and do the work without fuss.
Here are the varieties that earned a permanent place.
Cornel Bronze - If I had to choose one ball dahlia that never lets me down, this would be it. Cornel Bronze has a perfect ball shape and a warm bronze color that works with almost every palette. The plant is strong and productive which makes it one of the most reliable varieties in my field. Week after week, it offered straight, sturdy stems and flawless blooms. This one is a keeper in every sense.
Boom Boom White - Finding a good white dahlia can feel like a quest. Many varieties lean too cream or too green or they lose their form quickly. Boom Boom White is the one that consistently gives me clean white blooms with a solid structure. It is my best white for both wholesale and design work. The stems are long and dependable which makes harvest simple. I cannot imagine a season without it.
Ice Tea - This variety has become a quiet favorite. Ice Tea grows tall with strong stems that make arranging easy. The color shifts a bit as the season moves which I actually love because each phase is useful. Some weeks it leans warm, other weeks a little more muted, but it always blends beautifully in bouquets. It produces steadily which makes it a great workhorse in the field.
Purple - This one is special. It arrived as a mislabel and I still do not know its real name, so I simply call it Purple. It is the only purple dahlia in my field which makes it easy to track, and honestly it impresses me more every year. The plant is tall, sturdy, and produces more blooms than almost anything else I grow. The flower shape is consistent and always faces up which is exactly what you want in a cut flower variety. This plant has fully earned its place.
Sylvia (Maarn) - This was my first year growing Sylvia and I knew by midsummer that it would be sticking around. The bright orange color brings so much life to arrangements and the plant habit is everything I want in a dahlia. It produced heavily and gave me long, straight stems that were a dream to harvest. If every plant behaved like Sylvia, I would be thrilled. It is already on the returning list.
Rock Run Ashley - There is something about the color of Rock Run Ashley that makes it irresistible. It is soft yet warm and it blends well with so many palettes. The plant itself is a reliable producer and holds up through the season with steady blooms. This one has been a favorite for years and there is no question it will continue to have a full spot in the field.
Why These Dahlias Made the List
A dahlia has to prove itself to earn a permanent home here. These varieties share a few qualities that matter for both flower farmers and home gardeners.
They bloom prolifically
Their stems are long and strong
They hold up well in bouquets and wholesale orders
The blooms face up instead of getting lost in the plant
They keep producing even when the season turns stressful
When you find varieties that check all of these boxes, they make your work easier and your arrangements better. These dahlias do that for me year after year.
Growing dahlias is always a mix of trial and joy. Some varieties take time to impress you. Others walk into the field and shine from day one. These are the ones that have proven themselves at Green Willow Gardens and will continue to bring color and abundance to the field.
If you are planning your own cut flower garden or choosing varieties for next season, this list is a great place to start.
