DAHLIAS FOR SHOWING

The exhibitionists of the floral world

Beautiful in the garden, they are particularly grown for their exquisite blooms to be brought inside and shown in a container in the house or on the show bench. Some have blooms the size of dinner plates.

For showing and judging, dahlias are classified into types based on their form. Each type has specific standards used in judging.  There are also overall standards that apply to all types - see Judging Guidelines.

There are popular varieties that do not comply with the type standards used in judging (Cafe au Lait and the Delbard Dahlias are probably the best known). They are often used by florists in floral arrangements for events and special occasions, usually mixed with other species. Great for the house, they can also be used in the floral art show classes included at most shows (some shows also have places for ordinary garden varieties). They are not suitable for classes which specifically require the types below. Since the differences are not immediately obvious, experienced society members can help you distinguish them.

Click on the images for a description of the type, including specific judging criteria and photos of varieties that conform to the type.