Bloomquist Compare - Fall

Bloomquist Compare is one of those dahlias that feels almost made for wedding season. The blooms open in a soft blend of white and lavender, with the color often deepening toward the center and becoming richer as the season progresses. The result is a gentle ombré effect that feels romantic without being overly sweet.

Its formal decorative form gives the flower a full, layered look, but there is still enough softness in the petals to keep the bloom from feeling stiff. At approximately 4–6 inches across, it is a wonderfully practical size for cutting—large enough to act as a focal flower, but still easy to work into bouquets and centerpieces.

In our market bouquets, I love Bloomquist Compare when I want something soft and calming. It blends beautifully with blush, dusty rose, cream, white and other lavender tones, and it can also soften deeper burgundy or berry colors when I want a bouquet to have more contrast.

This is also exactly the kind of dahlia I like having available for our local florists. The stems are long and strong, and the neutral pastel coloring gives designers a lot of flexibility. Other flower farmers have specifically noted its reliability, vigor and usefulness in wedding work, which lines up perfectly with why a variety like this earns its place in a production field.

For weddings, Bloomquist Compare is especially valuable because it can move between several different palettes without looking out of place. In an all-white design, the lavender center adds just a whisper of color. Mixed with blush and mauve, it feels romantic and layered. Paired with deeper plum or burgundy tones, it becomes the soft counterpoint that keeps the arrangement from feeling too heavy.

I also enjoy that the color is not completely static. Early-season blooms can appear softer and more white, while later flowers may show noticeably more lavender. That subtle seasonal shift makes the variety interesting to grow and gives each harvest a little personality of its own.

For the gardener who loves soft lavender color, full romantic blooms and a dahlia that is genuinely useful for cutting, Bloomquist Compare is an easy variety to fall in love with.

Bloom Color: White to Soft Lavender / Lavender Ombré
Bloom Form: Formal Decorative
Bloom Size: BB — Approximately 4–6 inches
ADS Classification: 3008
Plant Height: Approximately 3½–4½ feet
Hybridizer: Paul Bloomquist
Introduced: 2021
Best For: Cutting gardens, market bouquets, florist work, weddings & exhibition