Chimacum Cathleen - Fall

Chimacum Cathleen is one of those dahlias that brings an entirely different feeling to the field. Its softly layered petals open in a delicate blend of blush pink and buttery yellow, creating the kind of watercolor coloring that feels romantic without being overly sweet.

The waterlily form is what really makes this variety special. Rather than having a tightly packed or heavily structured bloom, the petals open outward in graceful layers, giving the flower a flatter, more relaxed shape. At around 4 inches across, the blooms feel light and elegant—almost as though they are floating above the foliage.

In our market bouquets, Chimacum Cathleen is one of those flowers I use when I want to soften everything around it. It mixes beautifully with blush, cream, peach, pale yellow and other gentle garden tones, but it can also provide a beautiful contrast against deeper raspberry or burgundy flowers later in the season.

For our local florists, waterlily dahlias are especially fun because their open shape provides a completely different silhouette from the ball and decorative varieties that fill most of the cutting bucket. Cathleen brings air and movement into an arrangement, and its soft blended color makes it easy to incorporate into romantic floral work.

This is also exactly the kind of flower I love having available for weddings. The blooms feel naturally elegant in bridal bouquets, centerpieces and garden-inspired arrangements, especially when the design calls for something soft and graceful rather than perfectly structured.

There is also a lovely bit of history behind this variety. Chimacum Cathleen was introduced by David and Leone Smith in 2006, and Cathleen was noted as Leone Smith’s favorite among their Chimacum introductions. That little connection makes an already beautiful flower feel even more special.

For the gardener who loves soft blended color, graceful petal form and dahlias with an unmistakably romantic garden feel, Chimacum Cathleen is a beautiful variety to grow.

Bloom Color: Soft Pink & Buttery Yellow Light Blend
Bloom Form: Waterlily
Bloom Size: Approximately 4 inches
ADS Classification: 7310
Plant Height: Approximately 4–4½ feet
Hybridizers: David & Leone Smith
Introduced: 2006
Best For: Cutting gardens, market bouquets, florist work, weddings & exhibition