Caitlin's Joy Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Caitlin's Joy
• Type: Ball dahlia
• Colour: Vivid pink with a hint of apricot at the petal centres
• Flower size: 8 to 10cm across
• Height: 120cm
• Spread: 70cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Excellent. Straight stems, compact blooms, ideal for posies and bouquets
• RHS AGM: No
• Origin: Sport (natural mutation) of Cornel. Geerlings family lineage
• Sold as: Single tubers, hand-graded, Dutch first-class quality
• Plant outdoors: March to July, when soil reaches 15°C (typically May in most of the UK)
• Delivered: From March. Collection from Castle Cary also available

Caitlin's Joy: The Pink Sport of Cornel, and Just as Productive

Caitlin's Joy is one of at least five known sports of Cornel, the great maroon ball dahlia bred by Cor and Nellie Geerlings. Sports are natural mutations, a single branch that flowers in a different colour from the rest of the plant. Somebody spotted a pink branch on a Cornel and propagated it. The result inherited everything that makes Cornel a commercial cut flower workhorse: the weather-proof ball form, the tireless productivity, the straight, strong stems. Just in vivid pink with a warm apricot flush at the petal centres.

The flowers are 8 to 10cm across, tightly spiralled, satisfying to look at and touch. The plant is tall at 120cm but the strong stems usually hold without staking in a sheltered spot. It flowers from July to November, producing generously all season.

In a cutting bed, Caitlin's Joy is as reliable as its parent. Straight stems, consistent flower size, and a colour that sits in the useful middle ground between true pink and warm coral.

Companions for Caitlin's Joy

The obvious pairing is with Cornel itself: mother and daughter, deep maroon and vivid pink, same form, same height. Add the white ball Boom Boom White for a three-colour ball dahlia scheme. For a warmer border, the soft apricot of Preference (semi-cactus) gives textural contrast, spiky against round, at a similar height. Cosmos, salvias and soft grasses are natural border companions.

Why Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. We discard undersized tubers so you get a clump with viable eyes, ready to grow. Delivered by next-day courier from March, with our one-year plant guarantee and gardeners in Somerset on the phone if you need us. Browse our other ball dahlias or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's a sport?

A sport is a natural genetic mutation where a single branch of a plant produces flowers in a different colour from the rest. It's not a cross or a hybrid. The branch is identical to the parent in every way except colour. If you propagate that branch, you get a new variety. Caitlin's Joy was spotted as a pink branch on the otherwise maroon Cornel. All the Cafe au Lait family are sports of the same original plant.

Is Caitlin's Joy good for cutting?

One of the best pink ball dahlias for the vase. Straight stems, consistent flower size, excellent vase life. The compact 8 to 10cm flowers are ideal for posies and mixed bouquets where you want pink without overwhelming the arrangement. Pick fully open, condition in hot water for an hour. Expect five to seven days.

Can I grow Caitlin's Joy in a pot?

At 120cm it's tall for a container, but the strong stems keep it manageable. Use a pot of at least 35cm across and deep with a cane for support. Our dahlias in pots guide covers the options.

How does it compare to Wizard of Oz?

Wizard of Oz is a smaller, more compact ball dahlia (80cm, 5 to 8cm flowers) in a softer pink that fades to white. Caitlin's Joy is taller, bigger-flowered, and holds its vivid pink all season. Wizard of Oz is better for pots. Caitlin's Joy is better for cutting.

What other Cornel sports are there?

Cornel has produced at least five known sports, all sharing the same weather-proof ball form and tireless productivity. Cornel Brons (the sport that holds the RHS AGM) and Caitlin's Joy (this variety) are the most widely available. The entire family traces back to the Geerlings nursery in Heemstede. Full planting and seasonal care in our dahlia growing guide.