Dahlia 'Jersey Beauty'

The pink-and-cream dinner-plate-sized 'Kidd's Climax' of 1947 has 10-inch flowers atop 4-foot-tall plants.

Of the maybe 10,000 named dahlias introduced in the 1800s—when dahlias ranked right up there with roses in popularity—only three survive. One of them is 'Kaiser Wilhelm', introduced in 1892. Its 3-inch flowers have neatly curled petals of soft custard-yellow brushed with burgundy, and a green button eye just like that of an old rose. The plant can grow to 5 feet.

True to its name, 'Bodacious' sports blooms that are a burning combination of colorful, supersize discs on stalks that often grow taller than the advertised 4 feet. The rich color and ruffled effect of the loosely arranged petals make heavy-headed 'Bodacious' a choice cut flower requiring stout staking. A true showstopper, it responds well to lifting and storing over winter.

A tall plant with striking but relatively small blooms 4 inches wide, 'Bed Head' works well in the back of a border. Though not as floriferous as other selections, it is special due to its striking, unusually tangled appearance. 'Bed Head' is a lush grower and requires strong staking, but as a cut flower in a vase, it is a true work of art.