Are these really pompon dahlias? They don’t have the honeycomb shape at all. This is my first time growing dahlia from seed, and they aren’t what I was expecting at all. I’m not too annoyed about it because they’re still cute, but what are they?
by Aarinyay
11 Comments
They are dahlias, just not the pompom flower dahlias. Growing from seed is always slightly dicey because you can never 100% guarantee that the plant will come true, that’s just how nature works. The only way to absolutely guarantee a plant that is a clone of the parent is to take it from a cutting.
These more open flowers are actually better for wildlife than the pompom flower head because it is easier for the insects to access the nectar to feed on.
ETA your dahlias look amazing, I’m really jealous – mine never do well at all, the bugs and slugs in my garden love chomping on them too much!
I mean, it looks like it’s still a Dahlia, at least. But not like a honeycomb one to my eye.
Just normal dahlias. Gutted for you. I love the pom poms
I have the exact same packet and they almost all came out like this and all pink and yellow. I got one true pompon and the flowers are very small.
Dahlia genetics are extremely volatile and it’s almost impossible to guarantee a ‘type’ from a seed. Check out r/Dahlias or r/DahliaGrowersUK
Yours are trying with their double petal pattern but the pompon gene hasn’t expressed itself fully. I’ve heard sometimes they become a true pompon after being deadheaded or in their second year.
They’re still absolutely gorgeous though, I love the two toned colour. If you want to guarantee a pompon buy a tubor in future.
FYI these ‘collarette’ types are actually better for bees, the bees can’t reach the pollen with Pompons.
probably. all the suppliers seem to be making more and more mistakes this past few years
I bought a batch of those, currently growing 🥹😱🫣 here’s hoping daddy Fothergill didn’t do me dirty. ☠️
I bought sow from a local sale that were advertised as pom poms which weren’t must have grown from the same seeds. I bought alyssum seeds from Mr Fothergills. And I must have 3 or 4 different flowers that grew.
If you want reliable dahlia varieties always buy tubers.
We got some delphinium seeds this year that turned out to be … cosmos.
FOTHERGILL! He can’t keep getting away with this!
As much as Uncle Ben and Captain Birdseye have, I thought these were real people.
Imagine my disappointment when I found out Ronald McDonald wasn’t at every McDonald’s!!