Dahlia Bloom Size Indicator
AA -- Over 10" diameter B -- 6" to 8" diameter
A -- 8" to 10" diameter BB -- 4" to 6" diameter
M -- Miniature 2" to 4" diameter POM -- 2" diameter and under
BALL -- Over 3 1/2" diameter MBALL -- 2" to 3 1/2" diameter
Stellar WL -- Waterlily (See below)
Dahlia Descriptions
AN -- Anemone One or more rows of ray florets around a center of elongated tubular disc florets.
IC -- Incurved Cactus Petals rolled for their full length, with the tips of the petals curving toward the center of the flower.
SC -- Semi-Cactus Petals flat at the base, with less than one-half of the petals rolled or quilled.
C -- Straight Cactus Petals rolled for one-half their length of the straight or nearly straight petal.
FD -- Formal Decorative Flat petals with an even, regular placement throughout the flower.
ID -- Informal Decorative Generally flat petals, sometimes slightly rolled at the tips, but with irregular arrangement.
LC -- Lacinated Ray Florets that are split only on the very tips. These flowers have an overall fringed effect.
PE -- Peony Type Open centered flowers with two or more rows of petals surrounding a disc. Petals may be irregularly formed.
M -- Miniature A general term which applies to all dahlias producing flowers less than 4" in diameter (pompons excluded).
POM -- Pompon Fully double flowers, almost round in shape with tightly quilled petals, blooms 2 inches and under in diameter.
MBALL -- Miniature Ball 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.
COLL -- Collarette 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.
OR -- Orchid Type 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.
WL -- Waterlily Closed center with multiple rows of ray florets normally broad and flat or slightly incurved, depth usually less than one inch in diameter.
S -- Single Open centered flowers with a single row of ray florets surrounding a disc.
NX -- Novelty Characteristics differing from present classifications.
Dahlia Terminology
