Dahlia Cultivar Guide

Ever wondered what dahlia judges look for on the show bench?

When dahlias are judged, each bloom is assessed against the recognised standards for its cultivar type. Judges consider features such as form, symmetry, depth, floret arrangement, centre formation and overall presentation.

This Dahlia Cultivar Guide provides a simple visual reference to help you understand the typical characteristics of different dahlia types.

Remember — you don’t need a perfect bloom to enter a flower show. Exhibiting is about sharing what you grow, learning from others, and enjoying the beauty and variety of flowers on display. If you have a bloom you’re proud of, we encourage you to bring it along and give exhibiting a go!

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Pompon Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, symmetrical, and spherical like a golf ball.
  • Centre should be closed, fully developed and as high as the surrounding face florets.
  • Florets should preferably be uniform in size throughout the bloom.
  • All florets should be involute, regularly arranged and neat in appearance.
  • The tips of the florets should appear to be rounded.
  • The back florets of the bloom should reflex to the stem.
Catitlyns Joy

Ball Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, symmetrical, and spherical like a golf ball.
  • Centre should be closed, fully developed and as high as the surrounding face florets.
  • Florets should preferably be uniform in size throughout the bloom.
  • All florets should be involute, regularly arranged and neat in appearance.
  • The tips of the florets should appear to be rounded.
  • The back florets of the bloom should reflex to the stem.
Lynn T

Collerette Dahlia

  • Bloom should be symmetrical, with side view almost flat.
  • Face view should be circular in outline, regularly arranged and neat in appearance.
  • Centre should be open with fresh pollen and disc shaped.
  • Surrounding the centre there should be a collar which will form the inner row of wavy florets with multiple divisions usually pointed at the tip of each division and preferably half the length of the outer row of florets, which must be eight in number, broad, flat and rounded at the ends which should overlap.
  • The colour of the ollar florets and the outer florets should preferably contrast.
American Dawn

Formal Decorative Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, symmetrical and at least half but not more than its diameter in depth.
  • Face view should be circular in outline, regular in arrangement and neat in appearance.
  • Centre should be closed, fully developed, cone shaped and as high as the surrounding face florets, breaking gradually with immature florets.
  • Near the centre they may be involute, but those further away should be broad, smooth and flat.
  • The tips of the florets may be either rounded or bluntly pointed.
  • The back florets should recurve towards the stem.
Breakout

Informal Decorative Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, symmetrical and at least half but not more than its diameter in depth.
  • Face view should be circular in outline, regular in arrangement and neat in appearance.
  • Centre should be closed, high and cone-shaped breaking gradually with immature florets which near the centre should be broad and almost flat.
  • Outer florets should be broad, flat and slightly twisty, wavy and revolute for less than one-quarter of the length of any floret.
  • The tips of the florets should preferably be pointed
  • The back florets should preferably recurve towards the stem.
Taratahi Ruby

Waterlily Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, and symmetrical.
  • Side view should be saucer shaped and face view should be circular in outline and regular in arrangement.
  • The layers of florets should be openly spaced to give a delicate and light appearance.
  • Centre should be closed and dome-shaped breaking gradually to preferably five rows of fully developed outer florets.
  • Outer florets should be broad and slightly cupped with rounded ends.
Clearview Sundance

Cactus Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully doubled, symmetrical, and at least half but not more than its diameter in depth.
  • Face view should be circular in outline, regular in arrangement and neat in appearance.
  • Centre should be closed, high and cone-shaped, breaking gradually with narrow and partly revolute immature florets to outer florets.
  • Outer florets should be narrow, preferably with revolute edges overlapping from the tips for at least last two-thirds of their length and preferably pointed.
  • The florets may be either slightly incurved or straight.
Hamari Accord

Semi-Cactus Dahlia

  • Bloom should be fully double, symmetrical and at least half but not more than its diameter in depth.
  • Face view should be circular in outline, regular in arrangement and neat in appearance.
  • Centre should be closed, high and cone-shaped breaking gradually with flat, pointed immature florets to outer florets.
  • Outer florets should be broad and flat towards the base half and revolute from the pointed tips for more than one quarter but for less than half of their length.
  • The florets may be either slightly incurved or straight.
Show n Tell

Fimbriated Cactus Dahlia

  • Bloom should have all its florets, from centre to back, fimbriated from the tips at least 10mm, and preferably splayed.
  • In all other requirements, the bloom should be a replica of on of the approved types.