RatingSystem

Hollyhill Dahlia Rating System

By Ted J. Kennedy

Dahlias are grown by diverse people who have different needs. Most people consider dahlias to be cut flowers to
be picked and displayed in a vase. They want flowers that suit this purpose. Other people are avid dahlia show
exhibitors who want dahlias that will win in the shows and are not too concerned about bouquets or other uses.
Many people are just gardeners who want dahlias for their spectacular display of color and foliage in their garden.
Yet another group of people are avid flower arrangers who want dahlias with visual impact for their arrangement
and may not be concerned with many of the other uses.

We have no rating system for dahlias that helps people select dahlias for their purposes. I have devised a rating
system by which a four digit number will be assigned to each dahlia variety and I will endeavor to assign a score
for each dahlia based on this rating system.

Rating 1: Cut flower suitability
Rating 2: Show flower potential
Rating 3: Garden flower characteristics
Rating 4: Flower arranging characteristics

Each flower will be rated from 1 to 5 in each of the categories with 5 being ideal and 1 indicating very little
potential. For example: Ryecroft Jan 5-5-4-2, Chilson’s Pride 5-3-4-3, Kenora Jubilee 2-5-2-3., Cornel 4-4-3-2,
Hollyhill Spiderwoman 3-4-4-5, Embrace 3-5-2-2, Kathy’s Choice 3-5-3-4, Honka 4-5-5-3, Hamari Accord 3-5-3-3,
Yellow Corvette 2-2-2-5, Hollyhill Diamond 4-4-4-3, SB’s Sunny 5-4-4-2, Chimacum Katie 5-5-4-2, Zorro 2-5-2-3,
Mingus Toni 5-3-4-3, Bed Head 5-3-4-5, Hollyhill Electra 2-5-3-4

Definitions:

Cut Flower: Plant must be vigorous and have lots of flowers. Flowers should have good stems and stalks.
Flowers should look good at all stages of development from half open to fully ripe. Colors should lend themselves
to floral work and should be bright and clear. Pure shades of primary colors are desirable as are pastel shades.
Blends must be in pleasing colors. Variegated and bi colored flowers are also desirable. Flowers cannot be too
large and flowers over 6-7 inches in diameter are not preferred with ideal diameter being 3-5 inches in diameter.
Flowers should be long lasting in bouquets.

Show Flower: Flower wins at dahlia shows or has the potential to do so. Flower fits precisely into the form
definitions and holds up well to transporting to shows. Flowers may not grow vigorously, and the exhibitor is
expected to use superior growing techniques to achieve exhibition flowers.

Garden Flower: Appearance in the garden setting is the determining factor. Shorter growing varieties that have
continuous blooms held above the foliage are preferred. If the flower is taller growing, it should have the flowers
held well above the foliage. All flowers should have pleasing form and color in the garden setting. Garden
cultivars should be vigorous growers and not be susceptible to disease that detracts from appearance. Varieties
with dark foliage are also preferred.

Arranger’s Flower: This is the most subjective category. Individual flowers need to have visual impact because
fewer flowers are generally displayed in an arrangement. Incurved cactus, and informal decorative flowers are
more desirable than formal types. Colors should be pleasing and the depth of the flower can be shallower than
show flowers. Successful use of particular varieties can be an indication of their rating in this category.

I have assigned numbers to the dahlias that we sell. I have consulted with my wife and another Senior judge(and
flower arranger)on several of the ratings. However, just because I say that the numbers are these does not make
them so. In the long run, I would like feed back from other dahlia growers and put them into a database that would
provide an average number from several sources of evaluation.