If you visited our farm for an event this summer, you saw why we love growing the 700-ish named dahlia varieties in our fields. Besides the gorgeousness of it all, it is so helpful and useful to be able to compare similar blooms side by side for height, and vigor, and to observe how they change throughout the season.
These two beautiful American hybrids were both hybridized in the PNW by award-winning breeders, and have many other similarities, but also a few subtle differences. Let’s compare Bloomquist Catalina and Bumble Rumble!
Bloomquist Catalina and Bumble Rumble are both fantastic collarette form dahlias, with bright pink/soft pink ray petals and fluffy pure white collars. Both varieties have blooms which are about 3.5″ across, and both plants settle for us at about 40″ tall.Β
Bumble Rumble (hybridized/introduced in 2001 by the Gitts family at Swan Island Dahlias in OR) has more distinct light pink outlines on its ray petals, and Bloomquist Catalina (hybridized/introduced by Paul Bloomquist of Lynden, WA in 2021) has more of a soft ombre-fade from hot raspberry pink to softer pink on its ray petals. Bumble Rumble’s white collar petals are often slightly fuller than BLQ Catalina’s, and its plant habit is slightly more open, but both are wonderfully productive and absolutely delightful.
Loved by humans and pollinators alike, you can’t go wrong with either of these similar varieties in your garden! We feel so honored to grow both of these treasures, and love sharing them with our flower friends.
What other differences/similarities do you see in these two, and which do you want to grow the most!? ????
