If you’re browsing dahlias tubers and wondering what “rare” really means, you’re in the right place. At Fuirk Home we believe rarity should serve a purpose (great blooms) not just be a marketing word. Let’s talk about what makes a dahlia color rare, and which ones catch gardeners’ hearts.
What counts as rare?
“Rare” in dahlias often means the color is hard to breed, replicate, or sustain in good plant form. For example:
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There are over 20,000 named varieties of dahlias.
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Among them, true “black” dahlias don’t exist... what you see are extremely dark burgundy, maroon, or plum tones that look black. One source reports only 10‑20 varieties that approach this “black” look.
Examples of rare dahlia colors
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Near‑black/dark burgundy: These are so dark they read black in low light but are actually rich maroon or plum.
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Blue-ish dahlias: Truly blue blooms are virtually nonexistent in dahlias; it isn't even possible. Many “blues” are really mauves or purples.
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Other unusual hues: Some breeders push bronze, chocolate, dark‑greens in foliage, etc. (but those may be rarer in stock).
Why it matters for you
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Rarer colors often carry a premium price (scarcity + novelty). That means you’ll want to make sure you’re getting quality tubers (which we guarantee at Fuirk Home).
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They make a big impact in the garden or as cut flowers — if you want “wow” factors, rare = good. But risk vs reward: you’ll want good growing conditions and decent size tubers/roots.
Bottom line
If someone asks “what’s the rarest dahlia color?” you can confidently say: the near‑black / extremely dark burgundy/plum tones. They are rare because they’re hard to breed, hard to sustain in good form, and few varieties exist. But rare doesn’t always mean “better for your garden” — pick a variety you can grow well, in your zone, with good support (and yes, at Fuirk Home we’ve got your back with our live‑plant guarantee).