Dahlias 101
You can never get enough acronyms in this world! A list of dahlia related acronyms below:
Dahlia Bloom Size Indicator
- AA = Over 10" diameter
- A = 8" to 10" diameter
- B = 6" to 8" diameter
- BB = 4" to 6" diameter
- M = 2" to 4" diameter
- BALL = Over 3 1/2" diameter
- MBALL = 2" to 3 1/2" diameter
- POM = 2" diameter and under
Dahlia Descriptions
- Anemone (AN)
One or more rows of ray florets around a center of elongated tubular disc florets. - Incurved Cactus (IC)
Petals rolled for their full length, with the tips of the petals curving toward the center of the flower. - Semi-Cactus (SC)
Petals flat at the base, with less than one-half of the petals rolled or quilled. - Straight Cactus (C)
Petals rolled for one-half their length of the straight or nearly straight petal. - Formal Decorative (FD)
Flat petals with an even, regular placement throughout the flower. - Informal Decorative (ID)
Generally flat petals, sometimes slightly rolled at the tips, but with irregular arrangement. - Laciniated (LC)
Ray Florets that are split only on the very tips. These flowers have an overall fringed effect. - Peony Type (PE)
Open centered flowers with two or more rows of petals surrounding a disc. Petals may be irregularly formed. - Miniature (M)
A general term which applies to all dahlias producing flowers less than 4" in diameter (pompons excluded). - Pompon (POM)
Fully double flowers, almost round in shape with tightly quilled petals, blooms 2 inches and under in diameter. - Miniature Ball (MBALL)
Fully double flowers, almost round in shape with tightly quilled petals, blooms 2" to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. - Ball (BALL)
Fully double flowers, almost round in shape with tightly quilled petals, blooms over 3 1/2 inches in diameter. - Collarette (COLL)
One row of flat or slightly cupped petals surrounding a disc. These flowers have an inner set of petaloids generally multiple and irregular forming a collar around the disc. - Orchid Type (OR)
Open centered flowers with one row of ray florets surrounding a disc. The florets involute for two-thirds or more of their length. Usually partially overlapping. - Waterlily (WL)
Closed center with multiple rows of ray florets normally broad and flat or slightly incurved, depth usually less than one inch in diameter. - Single (S)
Open centered flowers with a single row of ray florets surrounding a disc. - Novelty (N)
Characteristics differing from present classifications.
