When florist Petri Rijsdijk from Fiori Bloemen in Leiden, Netherlands, talks about Dahlia, her eyes light up. To her, Dahlia is not just another flower of the season – it’s a classic, a bloom that carries both strength and softness, and one she gladly gives the center stage in her arrangements.
Petri’s passion for Dahlia has been part of her floral journey for years, but this season she had the chance to work with something extra special: a wide selection of Dahlia from My Dahlia Society, part of Coloríginz. She didn’t just see this as an assignment – for her, it was a way to explore and show how Dahlia can shine in very different floral stories.
Dahlia as a True Seasonal Flower
In her cozy shop in Leiden's old town, Petri always works closely with the rhythm of the seasons. She doesn’t like forcing flowers into the spotlight when their time hasn’t really come. “For me, Dahlia is a true late summer and autumn flower,” she says. “When I come back from vacation and see the first Dahlias, that’s when I know autumn is around the corner.”
While her husband is a Dahlia fanatic – he even jokes about wanting to be buried under Dahlias – Petri herself sees them as a seasonal marker. They belong to those months when days get shorter and colors in nature deepen. “Just like sunflowers are late-summer to me, Dahlia truly belongs to the transition into autumn,” she explains.
That sense of seasonality is also why she prefers to use Dahlias in bouquets, rather than in long-standing arrangements or weekly subscriptions. “They usually don’t last as long as some other flowers, but that’s part of their charm. They give you three, four, sometimes five days of absolute beauty. And in a bouquet, that’s where they shine.”
How to Make Dahlia Last Longer
Petri's words are not unusual to hear for Sem van Zuijlen from My Dahlia Society. One of the ever-recurring questions about Dahlia is how long they can actually last once they’re in a vase. According to My Dahlia Society, the answer depends less on the flower itself and more on how fresh it is when it reaches the florist. “When Dahlias go straight from grower to florist, they can easily hold for eight days,” explains Sem. “But if they first spend a few days at the auction, then a few days at a wholesaler, and after that perhaps even a couple of days at a florist before being sold, the end consumer may only get three to four days at home. The flower itself isn’t the problem—it’s the journey.”
To avoid this, My Dahlia Society makes sure stems move quickly through the chain. “We clear our flowers fast, often within a day,” says Sem. “That way they don’t hang around, and florists get them while they’re still at peak freshness.” This fast handling ensures a longer vase life and helps overcome the old stigma that Dahlia fade too soon. For florists, that reliability makes Dahlia easier to sell with confidence, knowing their customers will enjoy them longer than expected.
Building Bouquets With Balance
Back to Petri Rijsdijk, as she has already started arranging, Petri builds her bouquets in layers. “I often work with round forms – like roses, carnations, or Dahlias – to bring rest and rhythm into a bouquet. Then I add more playful shapes, like Sanguisorba or dill, to create movement.” For her, it’s all about balance: not letting one flower overpower the rest, but making sure each bloom gets its own place to shine.
That’s also why large Dahlias demand a special approach. “You can’t just hide them in a bouquet,” she explains. “They need space, an honor spot. Every flower deserves its moment, but with Dahlia, that’s especially true.”
Five Dahlia Varieties, Two Dahlia Bouquets, Two Characters
The five Dahlia varieties Petri was asked to create bouquets with came straight from the warehouse of My Dahlia Society in De Kwakel, at a stone's throw from the Aalsmeer Royal FloraHolland flower auction.
Dahlia Romance
Dahlia Romance has very large flowers and, surprisingly, very sturdy stems. The color ranges somewhere between orange and peach, sometimes more of one and sometimes more of the other. A beautiful Dahlia for a centerpiece.
Dahlia Crème de Cognac
A Dahlia like this brings warm autumn colors to your summer design. A mix of butterscotch, copper, peach, and a hint of cherry red. So many different hues packed into a single flower mean no flower is equally colored. This creates a stunning contrast throughout the bouquet.
Dahlia Caitlin Joy
Caitlin's Joy is a beautiful and very popular ball Dahlia, known for its unique hues that move from pink to each and creamy. Definitely a tall eyehatcher in floral designs.
Dahlia Sweet Nathalie
The Sweet Nathalie radiates nothing but tenderness, vulnerability, and love—almost unique in the flower world, so beautiful. This soft pink flower is simply sturdy and can easily withstand a blow.
Dahlia Pink Punk
You want it wild? You get Pink Punk. This outrageous flower does not want to be tamed. Just let it explode in a lush, big bouquet. The abundant shape and bright pink colors do the rest.
With the fresh stems from My Dahlia Society, Petri decided to create two very different bouquets, each highlighting another side of the flower.
The first became a wild, expressive bouquet, where Dahlia played together with other bold blooms. Strong colors like fiery red and orange gave the design a lot of energy, supported by Zinnia – a flower she feels belongs in the same playful family as Dahlia. This arrangement spoke of joy and freedom, a bouquet that felt like late summer sun captured in flowers.
The second bouquet turned out much softer and more romantic. Here, Petri chose pastel shades, adding more greenery and working with gentle transitions between tones. The result was a bouquet with a classic, timeless elegance – perfect for a wedding, or for anyone who loves the more tender side of Dahlia.
Personal Dahlia Favorites
When asked about her personal favorites, Petri doesn’t hesitate: she loves Dahlias with strong, striking colors. Her eyes point straight away to the Crème de Cognac and Pink Punk dahlias. “I’m less drawn to Café au Lait, even though I know it’s popular. For me, Dahlia should pop – it should have that intensity that really jumps out of a bouquet.”
Still, she respects every variety for what it brings. “What I always remember is that Dahlia petals are like little pompons, genius in their own right. I once saw a fashion photo where a model wore a skirt made entirely of Dahlia petal shapes. That image never left me. It shows how much overlap there is between flowers, design, and art.”
Dahlia’s Place in the Shop
At Fiori Bloemen, Dahlia naturally becomes one of the leading flowers of late summer. Customers may come in asking for roses or tulips, but Petri doesn’t let trends dictate her choices. “I always want to work with what the season gives. And right now, that’s Dahlia.” She notices that clients increasingly appreciate that approach. “When my clients see a fresh Dahlia bouquet, they feel it. The freshness of the stems, the boldness of the blooms – it’s something you can’t fake.”
Even though Dahlia is seasonal, Petri’s love for it isn’t bound by months on the calendar. “If a client asked for Dahlias in their farewell flowers, I would do everything to make it happen – even if it meant sourcing them from abroad,” she says.
That devotion shows just how deeply the flower is rooted in her personal and professional life. “Every Dahlia deserves to be seen for what it is,” she concludes. “And whether it’s in a bold, colorful bouquet or a soft, romantic one, my goal is always the same: to let the flower shine.”
A Seasonal Treasure With Staying Power
The season for Dahlia now stretches from mid-March to late October, but even with that long window, freshness remains the deciding factor. “It’s still a seasonal flower, and that’s part of its charm,” Sem says. “But when handled right, it holds beautifully—up to a week or more. That’s something florists can build on, and consumers will keep coming back for.” By taking care at every step, Dahlia can be enjoyed far beyond the three-day image they’ve unfairly carried for years.
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