Dahlia Pinnata Black Forest Ruby

Dahlia pinnata Black Forest Ruby Seeds

(2025 AAS Winner — Jet-Black Foliage with Red Blooms)

Dahlia pinnata Black Forest Ruby is a landmark achievement in seed-raised dahlia breeding. Awarded the 2025 All-America Selections National Award — the most respected evaluation of garden performance in North America — Black Forest Ruby boasts captivating jet-black foliage, a sturdy knee-high stature, and prolific flowering. Its vibrant red blooms stand out beautifully against the dark backdrop, making it perfect for gardens and containers alike.

Black Forest Ruby displays stunning single to semi-double flowers which radiate in all shades of red, ranging from scarlet to wine, and contrast beautifully to the dark pinnata leaves. The visual impact of this combination — vivid, saturated red flowers against near-black foliage — is dramatic and immediately striking, creating a contrast that elevates any garden or container display to a level of sophistication rarely achieved by a seed-raised annual.

Foliage color varies from dark green black to shades of dark green; as light intensity increases, it gets darker — meaning that in Gulf full-sun conditions, the foliage will develop its deepest, most dramatic near-black coloration, enhancing the contrast with the red blooms to its maximum effect.

Black Forest Ruby flowers continuously from summer over autumn until the first frost, making it one of the longest-performing seed dahlias available.

In Gulf conditions, this translates to excellent performance through the cool season from establishment in autumn through the productive winter-spring window.

Variety Details

• Variety: Black Forest Ruby
• Species: Dahlia pinnata
• Breeder: Takii Europe B.V.
• Award: All-America Selections National Winner 2025
• Flower type: Semi-double to double; varies from single to semi-double
• Flower color: Scarlet to wine red — all shades of red
• Flower diameter: 6–9 cm (2.5–3.5 inches)
• Foliage: Jet-black to near-black (darkens with increased light intensity)
• Height: 50–70 cm
• Spread: 25–35 cm
• Days to first flower from sowing: 85 days
• Staking required: No — sturdy self-supporting stems

Key Features

• 2025 All-America Selections National Winner — best seed dahlia on the market.
• Jet-black foliage provides a dramatic backdrop for the red blooms.
• Prolific semi-double to double scarlet-to-wine flowers throughout the season.
• Foliage darkens with more sunlight — full sun produces the most dramatic near-black color.
• Sturdy self-supporting stems — no staking required.
• 85 days to first flower from sowing — relatively fast for a dahlia.
• Disease and pest resistant performance throughout the season.
• Excellent for containers, combination planters, and garden beds.
• Pollinator friendly — attracts butterflies and bees.

Plant Information

• Height: 50–70 cm
  Spread: 25–35 cm
  Plant type: Tender annual (tubers can be overwintered in frost-free conditions)
  Habit: Upright, compact, self-supporting
  Foliage: Jet-black to near-black (intensifies in full sun)
  Sun: Full sun
  Soil: Rich, well-drained, airy soil or potting mix, pH 6.0–7.0
  Water: Keep soil consistently moist; water deeply 2–3 times per week
  Spacing: 25–30 cm apart
  Fertilizer: Feed every two weeks; avoid excess nitrogen

Seed Germination

• Seed depth: Press into soil and barely cover — very light cover of 3–5 mm
• Germination time: 5–12 days at 20–23°C
• Ideal germination temperature: 20–23°C
• Sow in cell packs or individual small pots in a well-drained, porous seed-starting mix at 20–23°C.
• Press seeds into the soil surface and cover very lightly — a fine layer of vermiculite or compost no more than 3–5 mm.
• Keep consistently moist but not waterlogged.
• Germination occurs in 5–12 days. Once seedlings emerge, maintain good light and grow on at 18°C.

Growing Tips

• Sow Black Forest Ruby seeds in individual cells or small pots in well-drained, porous seed-starting mix at 20–23°C.
• Press seeds lightly into the surface and cover with a very fine layer of vermiculite.
• Keep moist but not saturated. Germination takes 5–12 days. After emergence, reduce temperature slightly to 18°C to promote strong, compact growth.
• Transplant seedlings 21 days after sowing, or once they have developed their first set of true leaves, into individual pots.
• Grow on in full light and feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer at a moderate rate — avoid excess nitrogen which promotes foliage at the expense of flowering.
• Plant in their final position in rich, well-drained soil or large containers in full sun, spacing 25–30 cm apart.
• Full sun exposure intensifies the black foliage coloration and produces the most dramatic contrast with the red flowers.
• Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous new flower production throughout the season.
• Black Forest Ruby is self-supporting and does not require staking — a significant practical advantage over many dahlias.
• Water deeply and consistently — dahlias are heavy drinkers and perform best with reliable moisture, though good drainage is essential to prevent crown rot.
• In Gulf conditions, Black Forest Ruby performs as a cool-season to warm-season annual.
• Sow in September–October for transplanting in November, with peak flowering from December through April.
• The full-sun Gulf conditions will produce the darkest, most dramatic foliage color, maximizing the visual impact of the red-against-black contrast.

Gulf Planting Season

• Best sowing time in the Gulf: September–October (indoors)
  Transplanting: November
  Expected flowering: December–April (85 days from sowing to first flower)
  Note: Full sun intensifies foliage black coloration — Gulf conditions produce the most dramatic contrast. Deadhead regularly for continuous flowering throughout the season.

Garden and Floral Uses

• Garden beds and borders — bold architectural color contrast
• Containers and combination planters — outstanding “thriller” role
• Cut flowers — long-stemmed, vibrant red blooms
• Pollinator gardens — attracts butterflies and bees
• Mixed tropical-style container displays
• Mass planting for landscape impact