Cactus Dahlias (1913)

This article is adapted Chapter 4 from the book Dahlia by George Gordon, V.M.H., former president of the National Dahlia Society in Great Britain. It was published in 1913 in London, and reprinted that same year in the United States. 

Although the original work is in the public domain, this article has been edited for the modern reader and contains new material. 

This version is Copyright © 2024 by Steve K. Lloyd and may not be reproduced without permission.

CACTUS DAHLIAS

by George Gordon (1913)

Edited with revisions by Steve K. Lloyd © 2024

At the very time of the revival of the single Dahlias as subjects of popular interest there made its appearance in the floral world a new type which has become known as the cactus Dahlia. 

Its introduction proved an event of much importance, for as the precursor of large numbers of distinct and beautiful varieties it has contributed in no small degree to the revival of the interest in Dahlias both in relation to their value for exhibition and usefulness in the garden. 

Not less interesting is the fact that the descendants of Dahlia Yuarezii, the type of the cactus Dahlia, have effected a change in the views of raisers and growers on the points of perfection in Dahlias that is little short of marvelous. 

At first this epoch-making Dahlia was not accepted with favor by those florists who had for a long series of years devoted much of their time to the development of the blooms of the Dahlia on more or less formal lines. That they should have looked somewhat askance at the newcomer is not surprising, for its flowers varied materially from the ideals for which raisers had long been working.

Except in brilliancy of coloring the blooms did not possess one of the points that had long been regarded as essential properties of a show Dahlia. They were of large size, but the florets, instead of being cupped, rounded at the tips. The florets, arranged with mathematical precision, were long, pointed, and with a graceful curve. 

In general character the blooms of D. Yuarezii had a rather close resemblance to a variety known as Brown's Glowworm, which was figured in the Dahlia Register in 1836 when it was enjoying a high degree of popularity. This point is of interest as a proof that our gardens might have been enriched with cactus Dahlias some forty or fifty years earlier than was the case had there been a demand for flowers of this type.

If D. Yuarezii did not at first appeal to the florists its blooms were in full accord with the public taste, which had for some years previously evinced an appreciation for flowers that possessed a sufficient degree of lightness to suggest a touch of nature rather than the hand of man. It accordingly attained popularity with surprising rapidity, and the raisers engaged with much zeal in the task of producing new varieties of a similar type.

It was on the occasion of a fruit show held at the Alexandra Palace, Muswell Hill, on September 3, 1880, that D. Yuarezii was first presented to the public notice in this country. The exhibitor was Mr. Henry Cannell, V.M.H., of Swanley, and the large, elegant, and brilliantly colored flowers at once attracted the attention of visitors.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Cannell exhibited a stand of blooms at a meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society held at South Kensington, where also the new Dahlia created much interest. 

As already stated in a previous chapter, M. J. T. Van der Berg of Juxphaar near Utrecht received in 1872 from a friend in Mexico a case containing bulbs, tubers, and seeds, and from one of the tubers this Dahlia was raised. It will thus be seen that a period of eight years elapsed between its introduction to Europe and the appearance of blooms at a public exhibition in this country. 

To the late Mr. W. H. Cullingford of Kensington belongs the Credit of introducing the cactus Dahlia to this country. He met with it in one of the nurseries near Haarlem, and attracted by the distinct form and bright coloring of the flowers, he purchased plants and grew them for one or two years without being aware of the rarity of the type. He eventually gave some plants to Mr. Cannell, who, recognizing the potentialities of the flower, cultivated it well and brought it into public notice.

The readiness with which the raisers turned their attention to the production of varieties of D. Yuarezii is of interest as evidence that they had recognized the trend of public taste and were anxious to meet the varying requirements consequent on the changes in the world of floriculture. 

As the result of their activities numbers of new varieties were soon forthcoming, and by 1891 they had so greatly increased that the National Dahlia Society found it necessary to provide a class specially for them in the schedule of its exhibition for that year. By this time two sports from D. Yuarezii had been fixed and distributed. These were known as Beauty of Arundel (white) and Professor Baldwin (rose-purple).

In the production of new cactus Dahlias, early growers made the same mistakes as raisers of other flowers. They concentrated their efforts upon the development of the individual blooms instead of improving both the plant and its flowers. 

In following the course of procedure on which they entered they achieved much success. They remodeled the blooms on lines that rendered them more graceful and effective than were those of the type. They greatly increased their size, and developed a range of coloring so wide as to extend from pure white to brilliant scarlet and the richest shades of crimson, purple, rose, and yellow. 

The success that has been achieved in the development of the individual bloom during the progress of improvement is evident at the autumn shows, and the glorious displays of highly refined cactus flowers in their rich and diversified colors have done much to sustain the interest in the Dahlia, and have contributed materially to the popularity of the September exhibitions.

Recognizing the delightful effects produced at the autumn exhibitions by the splendidly developed blooms of the cactus Dahlias, it is not difficult to imagine how immensely would the flower garden have gained had a race of cactus varieties suitable for garden decoration been cultivated concurrently with the development of varieties remarkable for the large size and fine form of the individual blooms. 

But the blooms were considered of such paramount importance that but little consideration was given for many years by owners of gardens to the habits of varieties or their capacities for flower production. When Dahlias are required for contributing to the attractions of the garden the characteristics of the plants should have the first consideration. 

In the selection of Dahlias, as of roses and some other classes of flowers, it is essential to differentiate between the varieties specially adapted for exhibition and those most suitable for the production of color effects in the garden, and to select varieties that are the best adapted for the purpose for which they are required. 

If blooms are wanted for competitive purposes, then make selections of varieties from the winning stands at the exhibitions. But when Dahlias for garden decoration are required, take care to visit gardens and nurseries where these flowers are largely grown, and make note of varieties that are compact in growth and that carry their blooms well above the leaves.

Raisers of cactus Dahlias are at last devoting attention to the production of varieties especially adapted to garden decoration, and they have already introduced a considerable number that possess much merit. The attributes of a good cactus Dahlia for the garden are a moderately vigorous growth, a compact habit, and well-formed, attractively-colored flowers borne on stems of sufficient length and rigidity to carry them well above the leaves, that they may be readily seen and produce the best effect. 

The best size for the flower of a garden cactus Dahlia is a matter of taste, but those rather above medium size are in some respects preferable, because of their being for the most part proportionate to the strength of the stems.

Only a decade or so ago varieties of moderate height and bearing comparatively small flowers began to make their appearance in the seedbeds of raisers engaged in the improvement of the cactus Dahlia. The best of these have from time to time been selected with a view to fixing these characteristics, and the number in commerce is considerable. 

They are known as "pompon cactus" (see Plate IV), and form a group that is useful for garden decoration, and even more valuable for the supply of flowers for floral arrangements. The blooms are similar in form and color to those belonging to the ordinary varieties and about half the size, thus being most suitable for decorative purposes in a cut state.

The best place for the cactus Dahlias in the garden must be determined by the varieties selected and the purpose for which they are intended. If the object is to beautify the garden those varieties which are recommended only for that purpose should be selected. In the majority of cases the preferable course will be to plant them in mixed borders. 

In this case there will be an abundance of other flowers until the Dahlias come into bloom, and from the time they reach this stage until the frost causes a check to tender vegetation they will contribute liberally to the floral display.

In spacious borders they may be arranged in triplets to form bold groups, each group consisting of one variety, but in those of small size it is best to plant them singly. Arranged in borders wholly devoted to them, these garden cactus Dahlias are both attractive and interesting, provided due consideration is given to the height of the plants and the colors of the flowers. Medium-sized beds on the lawn are very attractive when filled with one variety, and that of moderate height and free in flowering.

Dahlias required for the production of blooms for exhibitions should be given a position in the kitchen garden or other out-of-the-way place where they will not be conspicuous from the house or the principal paths in the pleasure grounds, as breadths of Dahlias are not particularly attractive when grown in conditions most favorable to the full development of exhibition blooms. 

The preparation of the soil and the distance at which the plants are arranged must be in accordance with the directions that are given in the chapters devoted to these details.

THIRTY-SIX CACTUS VARIETIES FOR EXHIBITION

Advance : Bright scarlet. Flowers are very large.

Brigadier : Bright crimson.

C. E. Wilkins : Rich salmon-pink with yellow center.

Conqueror (see Plate III, below) : Rich crimson ; large and effective.

Dolly : Rich scarlet with pure white tips.

Dr. G. G. Gray : Bright crimson-scarlet. The florets are very narrow.

Dr. Roy Appleton : Lemon-yellow suffused with salmon.

Edith Carter : Rich yellow, passing to bright rose-red on the upper half of the florets.

Excelsior : Deep maroon. A refined flower.

Glory of Wilts : Bright yellow. A large, well-formed flower.

Frederick Wenham : A shade of fawn tinted with pink. This flower has very long florets.

Harold Pearman : Rich yellow; the blooms of large size and freely produced.

H. L. Brousson : White suffused with rose. The flower is of extra good form.

H. H. Thomas : Rich crimson. Very large and effective.

lolanthe : Coral-red tipped with golden-yellow. Distinct in color and high in quality.

Ivernia : Salmon suffused with faWn and with lighter center. Very large.

J. B. Riding : Orange with yellow at base of florets.

John Riding : Bright red with long incurving florets.

Leda : Deep rose color with light center-segments finely incurved.

Miss Stredwick : The florets are deep pink at the base and soft yellow at tip.

Mrs. Alfred Dyer : Lemon-yellow tinted with rose-pink.

Mrs. Douglas Fleming : White. A large and elegant flower.

Mrs. Charles Wyatt : White. A large flower of fine form.

Mrs. Macmillan : Bright pink with a center of cream white.

Mrs. Randle (see Frontispiece, below) : Rich rose-pink. Flowers are large and elegant.

Nantwich : Pale yellow, occasionally marked with scarlet.

Nelson : Rich crimson suffused with magenta. Large, and of fine form.

New York : Bronze suffused with salmon.

Pegasus : Bright rose striped and spotted with crimson.

Red Admiral : Brilliant scarlet. Of large size and excellent form.

Rev. Arthur Bridges : Clear yellow suffused and tipped with pink.

Rev. T. W. Jamieson : Yellow passing to lilac-rose.

Ruby Grinsted: A rose-fawn flower with a pale yellow center.

Satisfaction : White suffused with soft pink. Finely incurved.

Snowdon : Pure white, A large flower. Habit erect.

Victory : Coral-red. A large, full, and graceful flower.

TWELVE CACTUS DAHLIAS FOR THE GARDEN

Amos Perry : Rich crimson. Avoca : Rose-crimson shaded with scarlet.

Clarisse : Orange-scarlet shaded with cerise. Duchess of Sutherland : Blush pink.

Eclaire : Rich scarlet.

Erecta : Bright pink.

Hon. Mrs. Greville : Orange-yellow tinted with salmon.

Mauve Queen : Bright mauve.

Mrs. J. H. Usmar : Deep orange shaded with coral-pink.

Primrose Queen : Primrose-yellow.

Sweetbriar : Rose-pink.

White Ensign : Pure white.

TWELVE POMPON CACTUS DAHLIAS FOR EXHIBITION

Argus : Crimson-lake. 

Dandy : Primrose suffused with salmon. 

Garibaldi : Bright scarlet. 

Goldfinch (see Plate IV, below left) : Bright yellow. 

Mary : White edged with crimson. 

Martha : Orange-red. 

Minima : Purple-crimson. 

Modesty (see Plate IV above, right) : Rose-pink. 

Nain : Light orange, deeper in center.

Snowbird : White (finely incurved).

Titus : Lemon-yellow, shading to buff and tipped with white.

William Marshall : Maroon-red.

TWELVE POMPON CACTUS DAHLIAS FOR THE GARDEN

Cheerful : Pink with light center. 

Coronation : Bright scarlet. 

Grade : Scarlet, white, and yellow.

Mary.

Mignon : Bright pink.

Minima.

Nain.

Purple Gem : Deep purple.

Sovereign : Golden-yellow.

Sweet : Salmon tipped with white.

Tomtit : Mauve pink (very distinct).

William Marshall.

TWELVE CACTUS SINGLE DAHLIAS

Abbotsford : Orange-scarlet.

Amy Robsart : Rich scarlet. Florets are elegantly curved.

Fair Maid : Blush white. Of medium size and fine form.

Hereward : Yellow flaked and striped with scarlet.

Ivanhoe : Rose with crimson zone ; very pleasing.

Minna : Bronze-yellow suffused with carmine at the margin.

Meg Merrilees : Bright yellow. Florets are large and twisted.

Queen Mary : White with pale yellow zone ; elegant.

Rob Roy : Deep yellow striped and splashed with scarlet.

Rose Bradwardine : Yellow shaded with bronze and having red tips.

Sir Walter Rose : Pink with orange base ; gracefully curved.

Talisman : Deep crimson. Finely incurved.