Dahlias: When to Use Them, When to Skip Them, and 5 Dupes That Won't Let You Down

So everyone is straight losing their minds over Dahlias because it's their season to shine; and we sure do love how they look too… but…

Here's the hard truth people.

Dahlias are flakes!

She is totally the friend that has SO much potential but constantly lets you down. She has the potential to finish law school and dare we say be the first flower president but just can't get her shizz together to graduate. She has multiple meanings and they are all lovely and such but I am speaking solely from my experience as a floral designer for over 10 years. You think you can change her… but you can't.

Why she's everywhere right now

Dahlias are a late summer and fall flower. Depending on the farm, you're looking at roughly August through the first frost, with the sweet spot being September and early October. That's it. That's the window.

Outside of that window, she basically doesn't exist. There's no reliable year round supply the way there is for roses or lisianthus. So if your wedding is in April and your Pinterest board is wall to wall Cafe au Lait, we need to talk. Not to crush your dreams, but because I don't want you finding out the hard way that the flower you built your whole vibe around is on vacation.

If you're sourcing her locally then good on you! We work with brides that have access to local Dahlia farms (Pacific Northwest I'm looking at you) but that's not readily available across the country OR in various seasons so we fall back on shipping them - in which they just don't fair well. She can't be trusted and will likely use too many drink passes on SWA and show up sort of sloppy.

Here's why she doesn't ship well:

• She has to be cut fully open. Dahlia buds won't open after they're cut, so farms harvest her at her peak. Every day in a box is a day past her best.
• Her vase life is short to begin with. Three to five days with local sourcing and perfect care. Subtract two or three days of shipping and you can do the math.
• She hates being dry. Most flowers ship dry packed and rehydrate fine on arrival. Dahlias have hollow stems that struggle to pull water back up once they've dried out, so she often arrives limp and never fully bounces back.
• Heat in a delivery truck in September is real, and dahlias wilt faster than almost anything else we work with.

But Alison… they're SOOOO pretty

I know, I get it. But they are a fickle flower that even experienced designers may struggle with. A few of the issues I've grappled with in the past include:

1. Petal shedding, aka shattering. Dahlia petals literally shatter off the head. You pick up a bloom, brush it against another stem, or just look at it wrong, and petals come off in your hand. Why? Each petal attaches individually to the center at one tiny point. There's no shared base holding them together like on a rose. Because she's harvested fully open, those attachment points are already loosening when she leaves the farm. Add a little dehydration from shipping and some jostling in the box, and the petals let go at the slightest touch. Once it starts, there's no stopping it.

2. The petal structure blooms in a way that folds back on itself and it can be hard to find the right placement for the bloom as it will only “look” a certain way.

3. Color transfer. These petals have been notorious for smudging or staining. I would HATE for a bride (or anyone) to accidentally stain their clothing on the big day because some petals flaked out.

They can be a buyer beware item… But don't fret, we've assembled a list of substitutes that will not disappoint and are WAY more reliable, affordable, and easy to work with.

The dupes

Sunflowers
The obvious swap for the bold yellow and burnt orange dahlias everyone wants in fall. Big face, sturdy stem, ships like a tank, and lasts well over a week. Not subtle, and that's the point.

Chrysanthemums
Don't roll your eyes. Mums are the workhorse of fall and they come in the exact rust, bronze, and plum tones dahlias are famous for. Two week vase life, easy placement, and not a single petal on the table.

Cremons
The dinnerplate dupe. One giant, densely packed bloom per stem with the same round, layered shape as a Cafe au Lait or ball dahlia. Comes in white, cream, blush, and yellow, and will outlast her by a week. Easily.

Carnations
Hear me out. Ruffled, layered, available in every color under the sun, and basically indestructible. Bunch a few together and you get that full dahlia texture for a fraction of the price and none of the drama.

Gerbera daisies
Same round, open face and bright saturated color as the single and semi double dahlias, minus the meltdown. Ships well, holds its shape, and comes in every red, coral, orange, and pink you'd want for fall. Just give her a fresh cut and clean water and she'll stand up straight all week.

Bottom line
Love dahlias from afar. Grow them in your yard. Grab them at the farmers market on a Saturday and enjoy them on your kitchen table for a few days. But for the flowers you're counting on for the biggest day of your life, pick the friend who shows up.