Cornel - Fall

Cornel is one of those dahlias that proves a classic does not need to be complicated. The blooms are a rich, velvety dark red with a beautifully rounded ball form, creating the kind of flower that looks polished whether it is still growing in the field or freshly cut in a vase.

At approximately 3½–4 inches across, Cornel is a wonderfully practical size for bouquet work. The blooms have enough presence to be noticed, but they are compact enough to tuck easily among larger focal flowers and softer seasonal textures.

In our market bouquets, Cornel is a dependable source of deep red color. It pairs beautifully with blush, cream, burgundy, rust, peach, and darker fall tones, and it can bring just enough contrast to keep a softer bouquet from feeling too pale.

For our local florists, this is exactly the kind of variety I like to grow in quantity. Cornel is known for strong, straight stems, prolific flowering, and good vase life, which makes it much more than just a pretty red dahlia. It is a variety that actually works hard once cutting season gets busy.

I also love it for wedding work when the palette calls for a true, sophisticated red. It can feel romantic alongside blush and cream, dramatic with burgundy and wine, or beautifully seasonal mixed with copper and rust.

What I appreciate most about Cornel is its reliability. The form is consistently tidy, the color is rich, and the plants keep producing the kind of usable stems that make me glad I planted more than one.

For the gardener who loves deep red color, perfectly rounded blooms, and a proven cut-flower dahlia, Cornel is an easy variety to recommend.

Bloom Color: Deep Red / Dark Cherry Red
Bloom Form: Ball
Bloom Size: Approximately 3½–4 inches
ADS Classification: 6007
Plant Height: Approximately 4 feet
Hybridizer: Cor Geerlings
Introduced: 1994
Origin: Netherlands
Best For: Cutting gardens, market bouquets, florist work, weddings & exhibition