Rosie Raven

Rosie Raven Dahlia

Dark, ruffled, slightly weird, and completely fabulous. Rosie Raven combines rich mulberry-crimson petals with a wild lavender-purple center that looks like somebody gave a very fancy dahlia an absolutely magnificent bad hair day.

Rosie Raven began as seedling PK 20-64, hybridized by P. Komen and named by M.J.M. Komen-Kruiswijk in 2021. It was officially registered in 2022 and named for Rosie, daughter of British gardener and author Sarah Raven.

And Rosie got one heck of a namesake.

The approximately 3–4-inch blooms open in rich shades of mulberry-crimson, cranberry and deep purplish red surrounding a wonderfully unruly center of shorter, ruffled florets with contrasting lavender-purple tones.

It's technically an interesting little rebel, too.

Rosie Raven is widely grown and shown as an Anemone dahlia, but the RHS International Dahlia Register places it in its Miscellaneous group because the flower develops a collar around that distinctive center.

Translation: even the people whose job it is to classify dahlias looked at Rosie Raven and said, “Well... this one's doing its own thing.”

Plants generally grow around 3 feet tall, although growers report some variation with conditions. Its manageable stature, dramatic coloring and unusual flower form make it equally interesting in the garden and cutting patch.

Rosie Raven also brings something uncommon to the dahlia patch: pollinator appeal. Those ruffled central florets provide accessible nectar for bees and butterflies, giving this oddball beauty some genuine garden usefulness beyond looking spectacular.

At a Glance

Hybridizer: P. Komen
Named By: M.J.M. Komen-Kruiswijk
Seedling: PK 20-64
Origin: Europe
Named: 2021
Registered: 2022
Name Origin: Named for Sarah Raven's daughter, Rosie
Form: Anemone-style; RHS Group 10 Miscellaneous due to collar
Bloom Size: Approximately 3–4 inches
Plant Height: Approximately 3 feet
Color: Mulberry-crimson, cranberry and dark purplish red with lavender-purple tones
Cut Flower: Yes
Pollinator Friendly: Yes
Bloom Production: Prolific production reported
Stem Quality: Strong stems reported
ADS Show Classification: Anemone; 8207 reported in ADS show records
Why It's Loved: Dramatic dark coloring, wildly ruffled center, compact stature, pollinator value and a flower form that refuses to fit neatly into a box

Moose's Take

Rosie Raven looks like somebody crossed a dahlia with a Muppet attending a black-tie gala.

I mean that as the highest possible compliment.

The dark mulberry petals are gorgeous, but that crazy lavender-ruffled center is what makes me want to grow it. Add good production, useful cutting stems and a buffet for pollinators, and the weird little thing actually earns its keep.

Elegant? Yes.

Normal? Absolutely not.

The Moose approves.

Professionally grown rooted dahlia cutting. Ships April 1–May 15.