Collarette Dahlias (1913)

This article is adapted Chapter 9 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.

COLLARETTE DAHLIAS

by George Gordon (1913)

Edited with revisions by Steve K. Lloyd © 2024

The varieties belonging to this section are distinguished from all others by having a frill of short, erect florets around the central disc, which gives the blooms a distinct and pleasing appearance and the section its distinctive name. These florets are really an amplification of the outer row belonging to the disc, and upon their development and color the merits of a variety largely depend. 

Practically collarette varieties are single Dahlias with the addition of the frill or collar of erect florets, therefore the blossoms should be stout in substance and regular in outline, and the collar full and the color in harmony or pleasing contrast with the ray florets.

The history of the section extends over so short a period that it may be briefly stated. In the year 1899, in the municipal gardens of the Pare de la Tete d'Or, Lyons, two Dahlia plants produced sports bearing blossoms with abnormal florets around the disc. These sports in due course became fixed and were propagated, and in 1901 they were distributed as "Collarette" Dahlias by Messrs. Rivoire and Son, Lyons, under the names of President Viger and Joseph Goujon. 

Since the introduction of these two sports, many excellent varieties of the same class have been raised from seed and introduced to cultivation, but it was not until 1910 that the collarette Dahlias received in this country the attention they so well merit. The interest that was shown in them in the autumn of 1912 seemed to promise a wonderful future for this type of Dahlia. 

Both the French and German raisers have shown activity in the improvement of these varieties, and proceeding on divergent lines, they have achieved much success. The French varieties have flowers of great substance with broad florets rounded at the tips so regularly arranged as to form a complete circle. Those which had their origin in Germany bear flowers with rather thin, pointed florets. 

This slight falling off in substance and form has ample compensation in the distinct and beautiful shades of color, and in the brightness of the blooms. The majority of cultivators will probably prefer the more formal French flowers because of the greater substance and richer colors, and to exhibitors their greater staying qualities will be an advantage. 

The average size of the blooms of the collarette Dahlias exceeds that of the singles, and it does not appear desirable that their size should further increase because of the risk of their stems not possessing sufficient strength to bear them erect, a point of much importance both in the garden and when cut. 

The chief points to which raisers should give their attention are the improvement in the florets around the disc and in obtaining greater uniformity in development and a wider range of colors.

Most of the varieties of moderate height have a free, branching habit and bloom very freely. They also possess in a marked degree the merit of bearing their flowers well above the foliage. This attribute, combined with attractive coloring, renders the type of much value for the garden.

In general character the collarette Dahlias approach most closely the singles, and the sections may be successfully grown in the same conditions. The soil should in all cases be deeply dug and well broken up, and be moderately enriched with well-decomposed farmyard or stable manure. For beds and borders in which they are to be grown for decorative effect, a light dressing will suffice to maintain the growth essential to the continuous succession of flowers. 

They are admirably adapted for associating with other classes of plants, and may be planted singly or in groups of three, the latter method being the most effective in borders ranging from 8 to 10 feet in width. A border wholly devoted to them will form an attractive and interesting feature, as indeed will a spacious bed on the lawn. 

When grown in beds and borders wholly devoted to them, the plants should be arranged from 3 to 3½ feet apart. As in the case of the singles, the flower heads must be removed within a short time of the florets losing their beauty, the plants being examined for this purpose at regular intervals. The old flower heads are not only unsightly, but seed development imposes so severe a tax upon the plants as to materially check their growth.

EIGHTEEN COLLARETTE DAHLIAS FOR EXHIBITION AND GARDEN DECORATION

Albert Maumene : Bright mauve, collarette pale lilac. 

Antwerpia : Deep red with yellow collarette. 

Burgomaster Seifurth : Bright crimson with yellow collarette.

Comtesse Dugon : White marked with purple, collarette white.

Diadem : Deep but bright rose with light rose collarette.

Diamant : Rose with lighter collarette.

Gallia (see Plate VIII) : Cream color shaded with rose, collarette cream-white.

Exposition de Lyon : Cerise, collarette white and rose.

Henri Farman : Bright red margined with primrose, collarette soft yellow.

Ideal : Deep crimson with yellow collarette.

Maurice Rivoire : Bright crimson with white collarette.

Madame F. G. Bruant : Rose-purple with white collarette.

Madame Le Page Vigier : Rich scarlet with yellow collarette.

Madame Pairier : Magenta with white collarette.

Meteor : Deep crimson with white collarette.

Princess Louise : Deep crimson with yellow collarette.

Rheinkrone : Maroon with white collarette edged with red.

Souvenir de Chabonne : Yellow suffused with crimson and tipped white, collarette yellow.