Bloom Types
FD- Formal Decorative
ID- Informal Decorative
C- Straight Cactus
IC- Incurved Cactus
SC- Semi Cactus
LC or Lac- Lacinated
WL-Waterlily
ST- Stellar
AN- Anemones
PE-Peony
Co- Collarette
O-Orchid
S-single
NX- Novelty Double
Forms
Formal Decorative
Ray florets are flat broad, and smooth in a regular arrangement the generally recurves toward the stem. Each ray floret row should convey a uniform and regular size arrangement with the tips round or extended to a slight point. The ideal depth is 3/4 the diameter of the bloom and should be no greater than it's diameter.
Informal Decorative
Ray florets are twisted, curled, or wavy, and of a uniform size in irregular arrangement. They can be partially involute or revolute. the depth is 3/4 the diameter of the bloom and not greater than the diameter.
Semi- Cactus- Ray florets are broad at the base, straight or incurved, and reflex toward the stem in a regular and uniform arrangement. Ray florets will be revolute for about 1/2 of their length and fully revolute [touching or overlapping] for at least 1/4 their length. the ideal depth is 3/4 the diameter of the bloom and should be no greater than it's diameter.
Straight Cactus
Ray florets are narrow at the base, straight, uniform in length and fully touching or overlapping for 1/2 their length.
A depth of 3/4 the diameter is ideal.
Incurved Cactus
Ray florets are pointed, uniform in length, they curve toward the face of the bloom, and are fully touching or overlapping for the majority of their length. They usually lack depth of the dahlia forms above. A depth of 1/2 the diameter or slightly more is ideal. The general direction of the ray floret is up and away from the stem, but there may be an arc to the rays downward and then up. The involucres is rarely if ever covered.
Lacinated
Ray Florets are split at the top with a number and depth of the splits varying according to the size of the ray floret. The portion with the twist should uniformly twist or curl whether involute or revolute. The less mature the ray floret should have splits but do not have to twist or curl. most of the ray florets will be uniformly arranged with a split or curl that looks like a fringed or frilled effect. Ray Florets with a shallow notch or cleft and possessing little twisting to the extreme portion should not be classified as lacinated. The ideal depth is 3/4 the diameter of the bloom and should be no greater than it's diameter.
Ball
Blooms are ball shaped with uniform florets,involute for most of their length, and fully involute for more than 1/2 their length. The ray florets reflex toward the stem. Ray floret tips cross-section should be circular and show little distortion, completely filing the floral head and are round or blunt without notch or point.
Miniature Balls
Same as above except for size.
Pompom
The ray florets are involute for the whole of their length and fully involute for 1/2 their length. Except for size they are similar to the Ball description.
Stellar
The ray florets are long, narrow along their length with pointed tips, like a star. They show space between the ray florets in each of the rows and have a uniform regular arrangement. All the ray florets will have a partially involute form in an "U" shape in cross-section for the majority of their length and will recurve toward the stem. The bloom depth should be greater than 1/2 of the diameter and should be no greater than it's diameter.
Waterlily
The bloom should be fully double and symmetrical; the side view should be flat to saucer-shaped in arrangement. The layers of the florets should be open faced to give a delicate appearance. The center should be closed and dome-shaped breaking gradually to 4 to 7 rows of fully developed outer florets. Outer florets should be broad and slightly cupped with rounded tips. A bloom position at 45 degrees is best, but a top facing is acceptable.. In petite waterlily cultivars[ 1-3 inches in diameter] the depth should have fewer` rows of ray florets. The bloom depth should be greater than 1/2 of the diameter of the bloom.
Peony
At least two, but no more than five rows of ray florets surround the disc. The ray florets are broad, flat to slightly cupped, and evenly spaced in a flat appearance. Ray florets are equal or nearly, in length from the bloom face to the back, not recurving or reflexing to the stem. Ray florets adjacent to the disc may be twisted or curled, but if should be symmetrically arranged around the disc. Ideal depth is less than 1/3 the diameter. Disc floret may show zero to two rows of pollen.
Anemone
A dome of elongated tubular disc florets surrounded by one or more rows of ray florets. The ray florets should be uniform in shape, size, and formation and be regularly arranged around the disc florets. The ray florets should be visible from the face of the bloom, having a balanced framing of the dome. The disc florets should also be uniform in shape, size, and formation and be fully developed. Each disc floret should be entirely tubular or predominantly tubular with a fringed tip.
Collarette
A bloom will have a single row of flat or slightly cupped ray florets arranged in a flat plane. The ray florets will uniformly overlap, preferably in the same direction with no gaps. Eight ray florets and a round floret is most desirable. The disc flower should contain evidence of pollen with up to 3 rows is best.
Single
The blooms have a single row of flat or slightly cupped ray florets arranged in a flat plane. They uniformly overlap, best in the same direction with no gaps. Eight rays florets are best. Disc flowers with up to 3 rows of pollen are desirable with a round floret tip. The bloom is over 2 inches in diameter.
Mignon Single
They have the same formation as the single except they have round ray floret tips. With no more than 2 rows of pollen. The bloom is under 2 inches in diameter.
Orchid
A single row of uniform, evenly spaced ray florets arranged in a flat plane surround the disc flowers. The ray florets should be straight and involutes for 2/3 or more of their length and fully involute for at least 1/3 of their length. Eight ray florets are best. Disc flowers with up to 3 rows of pollen are best.
Novelty Open
This a classification for dahlias with different characteristics than the above forms. The center should be open with the disc center in proper proportion to the ray florets.
Novelty Fully Double
Similar to Novelty Open. The center should be closed.
Size Classificatons
AA- [Giant or Dinnerplate]Over 10 "
A- [Large]Over 8" to 10"
B- [Medium]over 6" to 8"
BB- [Small] Over 4" to 6"
M-[Miniature]- up to 4"
BA-[ Ball] Over 3.5 "
MB- [Miniature Ball] Over 2" to 3.5 "
P-[ Pompom] Up to 2"
MS-[ mignon Single] Up to 2"
S-[Single] over 2"
Color Codes
W- White
Y-Yellow
OR- Orange
PK- Pink
DP-Dark Pink
R- Red
DR- Dark Red
L-Lavender
PR- Purple
LB- Light Blend
BR- Bronze
FL- Flame
DB- Darl Blend
V- Variegated
BI- Bi- Colored
