How can a flower grow into something so wonderfully unique?
All dahlias have their roots in wildflowers from nature. Once growers began to crossbreed them, all kinds of enchanting shapes appeared. That’s thanks to the dahlia’s extraordinary genes.
Around 1850, the pompon dahlia made its first appearance. It was named after the little pompons on the caps worn by French sailors at the time — and you can see why.
Pompon and ball
Later, larger versions of the pompon were cultivated. These became the ball dahlias. What is the difference? Pompons grow up to five centimetres, while ball dahlias are just a bit larger.
A round waffle
We once heard someone describe it as a round waffle. Such a charming comparison. Each petal of a ball dahlia is rolled in the same gentle way. They line up beautifully along the stem, creating an almost perfectly round flower.
A drink for garden visitors
After a summer rain or a splash from the watering can, droplets remain between the petals. A lovely little drinking spot for butterflies, bees and other garden visitors.
A mathematical miracle
Many of our FAM ball dahlias were lovingly bred by Flemish dahlia grower Jef Weyts. As a former mathematician, he has a deep passion for pompon and ball dahlias. His 'Jowey' varieties often have that signature shape. What fascinates him so much? The petals follow the rhythm of the Fibonacci sequence, a beautiful number pattern from mathematics. It appears everywhere in nature. Pine cones, pineapples, and even sunflower seeds are arranged this way.
A colorfull cut flower
Pompon and ball dahlias now bloom in a whole range of colours. And what makes them even more special is how well they work as cut flowers. We love using them in our bouquets, but sometimes just a single ball dahlia in a vase or bottle is enough to make your home feel like summer.
(Dahlia tubers are available in our webshop from December trough early June)
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