Special Dahlia Vocabulary
Popped or Blown Center
Popped or blown center means the pollen shows on an overly mature fully double bloom. The petals will soon begin to fall off and the bloom is past peak.
Staghorn Petal
Staghorn petals are when an incurved cactus petal has an elbow instead of a smooth arc to its bend
Ray Floret
A broad petal of an open-centered dahlia.
Picotee
Fine line of contrasting color found on the margin of the ray floret (example: Stevie O, pictured)
Bullnose
Petals do not grow over the center.
Wolf petal
A random petal of a different color.
Reflex
The layers of petals go back toward the stem. Balls reflex all the way back, hiding the top of the stem.
Involute
Petals roll in. If you plucked one, it would be like a canoe.