Two More Mystery Dahlias Make Their Debut!

Believe it or not, both of these mystery seedlings would be classified as "Purple" according to the American Dahlia Society (ADS) Color Classification Standards.

Purple Semi-Cactus dahlia

Purple Formal Decorative dahlia

At first glance, you might call them burgundy, wine, magenta, raspberry, or even deep red. But the ADS has a standardized color system used for exhibiting and registering dahlias, and both of these blooms fall into the Purple (PR) category. In general, if a bloom has a noticeable blue or cool undertone, it will often fall into the Purple (PR) class rather than the Red (R) class. Warm, scarlet, tomato, or fire-engine reds, on the other hand, are typically classified as Red.

These two seedlings are also very different in form:

🌺 Top: Showing the traits of a Semi-Cactus dahlia, with petals that are pointed and partially rolled, giving it a more dramatic, spiky appearance.

🌺 Bottom: Appears to be a Formal Decorative, with neatly arranged, symmetrical petals that create a classic, refined bloom.

Remember, these are first blooms. Seedlings often change as the season progresses—the flowers may become larger, fuller, more symmetrical, or even shift slightly in color. We'll be watching these plants closely over the coming weeks before deciding whether they've earned a permanent place in our collection.

So... what do you think?
Would you keep one of these? Both? Or neither? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

🌸 Kala & the Dead Horse Creek Estate family