E. Bridgewater Dahlia Gardens J. K. Alexander , E. Bridgewater , Massachusetts 
The Peony-Flowered Dahlias 
In presenting my list of new and selected varieties of Peony-flowered Dahlias, I wish to devote a few line 
to the history of this comparatively new type of Dahlia; a section which I think will interest all flower lovers. 
Prompted by the great popularity of the Cactus Dahlia, then so different from the stiff, ball-shaped Dahlias 
but only beautiful for exhibition, lacking the grace and freedom to flower of the Single Dahlia, European hybridiz¬ 
ers saw the possibility of making a type suitable for garden and cut-flower purposes. 
By crossing the Cactus and other Hybrid Dahlias with the Single, and vice versa, they developed quite a 
new type—the Peony-flowered Dahlia—now popular all over the world. These long stemmed, semi-double Dahlias 
were grown in Holland, and sold as Half-double Giant Dahlias. Mr. H. Hornsveld, an Orchid specialist of Baarn. 
Holland, immediately saw their possibilities and collected the largest and most promising specimens. The great 
development and present value of the Peony-flowered type is due to him. After seven years of cross-hybridizing 
and developing (July, 1904), he was able to show the results at the meeting of the Dutch Horticultural Society at 
Rosendaal, where he exhibited four varieties, Queen Wilhelmina, Duke Henry, Baron G. de Grancy and Glory of 
Baarn. Here he received a first-class Certificate of Merit, and the admiration and encouragement of growers and 
Dahlia lovers. A still greater success was accorded him that same season at the International Exhibition at 
Dusseldorf, Germany, where he gained the highest awards. The horticultural world gathered at the Show was 
charmed by the elegant and artistic form, the strong stems, and the delicate colors of the flowers. Mr. Kerr of 
Liverpool exclaimed, “Hornsveld’s Dahlias are the pride of the Show. After Dusseldorf came Paris. A gold 
medal and special compliments of the jury were the laurels Mr. Hornsveld gathered there. Amsterdam, Lon¬ 
don, Brussels and other places followed, where he had the same good fortune. 
With this encouragement he continued experimenting and introducing new things, and as his stock increased 
sufficiently, he distributed them throughout Holland. Because of their great value for cut flower purposes and 
garden decoration, their popularity increased rapidly, and they were exported to other countries. 
English and American Dahlia Specialists, seeing their value, immediately commenced experimenting, and 
to-day every up-to-date Dahlia specialist offers a collection, not only containing the best and latest Holland pro¬ 
ductions, but also English and American creations. 
New Peony-Flowered Dahlias for 1920 
I will ship this collection of 31 New Peony-flowered Dahlias prepaid for $50.00. 
ALTA POWELL. Alexander’s New Peony-flowered 
Seedling. A very bright lemon yellow, overlaid, 
blending to and edged carmine red. The plants are 
very tall and sturdy, producing their flowers on 
long stiff stems, well above the foliage. This new 
seedling is one of the most free-flowering varieties 
I have seen, making it a very desirable garden 
variety. Named for Miss Alta Powell of New Haven, 
Conn. $2.00 each. 
CREATION. Holland Peony-flowered Dahlia. This 
new variety has a very pleasing and unique 
shade, one not common in Dahlias; a beautiful rose- 
red, that wins instant favor. Flowers of medium 
size and produced freely upon long stems. Good 
cut-flower short. $1.00 each. 
BESSIE SEABURY. Alexander’s New 
Peony-flowered Seedling. White very 
daintily overlaid a delicate mallow pink. 
An exceptionally free-flowering variety, of 
good habit, that produces its blossoms 
on good long stems. Named for and by 
permission of Mrs. William T. Seabury, 
North Weymouth, Mass., a great admirer 
of beautiful flowers. $2.00 each. 
BERTHA PAULDING. (Alexander). A 
very striking variety for the garden, grow¬ 
ing five feet and over in height. The 
plant is strong and sturdy, producing a 
large number of blooms on long stems. 
The flowers are of an exquisite, deep, 
rose-pink, of good depth and with an 
open center. Altogether one of the best 
pinks of its type. Price, $3.00 each. 
CALIFORNIA. Introduced from Holland 
as a Peony-flowered Dahlia, but with us, 
it has characteristics of both the Decora¬ 
tive and Peony-flowered types. The early 
flowers are full to the center, with broad 
petals that are somewhat pointed and 
long, like the true-Decorative. As the 
season advances, the flowers show that 
beautiful golden yellow center, so char¬ 
acteristic of the Peony-flowered type. In 
color, it is a beautiful clear rich deep 
yellow, which makes it without exception 
one of the very finest yellow Dahlias to 
date. The blossoms are large, and pro¬ 
duced upon good long stiff stems. Very 
free-flowering. $1.00 each. 
CARDINAL. New Holland Peony-flowered 
Dahlia. A very large flower that early in 
the season comes nearly full to the centre, 
and of a gorgeous maroon-purple. The 
stems are unusually good, being long and 
very strong, producing the flowers well 
above the foliage. The best of this color 
to mv knowledge. $1.00 each. 
MADONNA. 25c each; $2.50 per dozen. (See page 21.) 
17 
