AC Cowlitz - Fall

AC Cowlitz is one of those dahlias that brings a little drama with it every time you walk through the field. The blooms are large, full and deeply colored, landing somewhere between a rich reddish-purple and dark wine depending on the light. It is a color that feels especially beautiful as summer begins to lean toward fall.

The informal decorative petals give each bloom plenty of movement, so even at around 8 inches across, the flowers never feel stiff or overly formal. They have a lush, almost billowy quality that makes them wonderful statement blooms in the vase.

For market bouquets, AC Cowlitz is the flower I use when I want to take a bunch from pretty to memorable. One bloom can provide all the focal power you need, surrounded by smaller dahlias, textural flowers and greenery. Florists also love flowers with this kind of scale because they can build a design around just a few exceptional stems.

It really shines in wedding work, particularly in late-summer and fall palettes. I love pairing it with dusty rose, blush, burgundy, mauve, antique pink and even softer peach tones. The dark coloring grounds an arrangement and gives lighter flowers something to play against, while its loose petal structure keeps the overall look romantic rather than heavy.

The plants themselves are vigorous and sturdy, reaching around 5½ feet, and they are known for producing an impressive number of blooms for a large-flowered variety. That combination of size, color and production is exactly what makes a variety valuable in a working flower field.

AC Cowlitz is for the gardener who wants a dahlia with real presence—deep moody color, big expressive blooms and enough personality to completely change the feel of a bouquet.

Bloom Color: Deep Reddish-Purple / Dark Red
Bloom Form: Informal Decorative
Bloom Size: B — Approximately 8 inches
Plant Height: Approximately 5½ feet
Best For: Statement bouquets, wedding work, florist orders, cutting gardens & exhibition