THE COLLECTION
The National Collection was formed in 1983 by David Brown in Oxfordshire where is stayed until 1989 before then being reformed in Cornwall by David in 1994.
Subsequently The Collection moved to its present home on Varfell Farm near Penzance.
In 2009 the National Collection displayed at the RHS Chelsea show. This was the first time dahlias had been shown at Chelsea for 25 years and we achieved a gold media and the President’s Special Award for the best Floral exhibit.
In recent years the Collection has also achieved gold medals at the RHS Hampton Court , Tatton Park and Westminster shows.
Dahlias have enjoyed a great resurgence in recent years moving on from memories of allotment plots to use as feature plants and being the best source of late summer and autumn colour in any garden.
Dahlias can be grown in most soils and situations and can also be grown in pots for use in smaller gardens and on patios.There are also many dark foliage varieties which add variety to may garden settings as well as helping to set off other plants.
We have a number of Specie forms available from the delicate D. Merkkii (shown left) to the potentially huge tree dahlia D.Imperialis (shown right).
Dahlias are classified into nine different forms and each dahlia in the Collection is identified by name , form and colour and each has a unique catalogue number.
Dahlias are a beautiful all round flower - by choosing your varieties you can have cut flowers, borders and terraces full of colour well into late summer AND early autumn.
Colours range from the palest pinks through to chocolate box reds; fiery oranges to purples and foliage from green to dark bronze.
You can search, on this website, by name (or part of name), catalogue number, colour, classification (Variety) or a combination of search criteria (eg Decorative and Red).
Classifications
An example of each classification is shown.
DECORATIVE
Decorative dahlias have fully double blooms showing no disc. The ray florets are either involute, scarceley involute, not involute, or revolute at apex and either come to a point, abruptly come to a point or indented.
Black Monarch
CACTUS
Cactus dahlias have fully double blooms, the ray florets are usually pointed, the majority narrow and resolute for 50% or more of their length (longitudinal axis) and either straight or incurving.
Kiwi Cousin
SEMI-CACTUS
Semi-Cactus dahlias have fully double blooms; the ray florets are usually pointed and revolute for more than 25% of their length and broad at the base and either straight or incurving. GIANT - Flower size over 254 mm/10 inches diameter
WATERLILY
Waterlily dahlias have fully double blooms characterised by broad and generally sparse fay florets, which are straight or slightly involute along their length giving the flower a shallow appearance. The depth should be less than half the diameter of the bloom.
POMPON
Pompon dahlias have fully double spherical blooms of miniature size, with florets largely involute along their length (longitudinal axis).
BALL
Ball dahlias have fully double blooms showing no disc, ball shaped or slightly flattened. The ray florets are displayed in spiral arrangements and are involute and round at the apex.
COLLERETTE
Collerette dahlias have blooms with a single outer ring of generally flat ray florets, which may overlap, with a ring of small florets (The Collar) the centre forming a disc.
DWARF
Dwarf dahlias are those suitable for growing at the front of the border and in pots, growing up to 2' in height.
MISCELLANEOUS
Any dahlias which do not fall into the other groups are included here such as single orchid, double orchid, anemone types.
To locate particular plants or colours you can use our search facility.
Search for Dahlias
Please select from the drop down boxes to make a search or enter a key word.
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Cuttings are now being taken
The order book for 2012 is due to close on March 12th
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