Gerrie Hoek Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Gerrie Hoek
• Type: Waterlily
• Colour: Shell pink, paler at the edges, with light yellow highlights at the heart
• Flower size: 10 to 15cm across
• Height: 120cm
• Spread: 50cm
• Flowering: Mid-June to November (one of the earliest dahlias to flower)
• Cutting: Excellent. Long stems, long vase life, popular for wedding work
• Exhibition: Yes. A favourite of the late-summer show bench
• RHS AGM: No
• Origin: Netherlands, c.1945. Named after a relative of the breeder
• 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

Gerrie Hoek: An Eighty-Year-Old Waterlily Dahlia That Still Tops the Show Bench

Gerrie Hoek was introduced around 1945 and named after a relative of the Dutch breeder. Eighty years later it's still a top seller, still a show bench regular, and still one of the first dahlias people reach for when they need a pink waterlily for cutting. Longevity like that isn't luck. It's performance.

The flowers are a delicate shell pink that pales towards the outer petals, with light yellow highlights among the heart petals that look almost hand-painted. The waterlily form is elegant and understated: broad, overlapping petals lying flat and shallow, very different from the tight spirals of a ball or the ruffled chaos of a dinnerplate. At 10 to 15cm across, the blooms are big enough to be a focal flower in an arrangement.

It's also one of the earliest dahlias to flower, sometimes starting in mid-June if conditions are right. The long stems (it grows to 120cm) and long vase life make it a natural choice for cutting, and wedding florists use it for the soft pink colour and the elegant form. Exhibitors rate it highly too.

Where to Plant Gerrie Hoek

The soft shell pink works beautifully in pastel schemes. Plant Gerrie Hoek alongside Arbatax (white with pink watercolour edges, 90cm in front) and the pure white waterlily White Swan (120cm, same height) for a gentle gradient in the same part of the border. For a warmer combination, the sunset tones of Wine Eyed Jill (peach-and-purple ball) bring depth without clashing. The dark maroon waterlily Sam Hopkins provides dramatic contrast in the same flower form.

Why Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded. We reject 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, Feefo Platinum Service Award, and real people on the phone in Somerset if anything isn't right. Browse our waterlily dahlia range or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Gerrie Hoek flower so early?

Some varieties are naturally earlier than others, and Gerrie Hoek can start as early as mid-June in a good year. Most dahlias begin in July. The extra two to three weeks at the start of the season, combined with flowering right through to the frosts, gives you one of the longest flowering windows of any dahlia.

Is Gerrie Hoek good for weddings?

Popular with wedding florists for the soft pink colour, elegant waterlily form, and long vase life. The long stems cut well and the blooms hold their shape. Plant plenty. You'll want to cut generously without feeling guilty about the garden display.

How does a waterlily dahlia differ from a decorative?

Depth. Decorative dahlias are fully double with many layers of petals building depth and volume. Waterlily dahlias have fewer petals arranged flat and shallow, overlapping like a waterlily floating on a pond. The effect is more elegant and restrained. Our types of dahlias guide explains all the classifications.

Can I grow Gerrie Hoek in a pot?

At 120cm it's tall for a container, and waterlily flowers catch rain, so you'd need staking and shelter. It'll work in a large pot (at least 35cm) but it's really best in a border or cutting bed. Our pots guide covers what works in containers.

How do I get the best show blooms?

Disbud to one flower per stem, feed weekly with dilute tomato fertiliser from June, and water consistently. The waterlily form needs even development: irregular watering produces lopsided blooms. Cut for the show bench in the morning when the flower is fully open but not past its best. Full growing advice in our dahlia growing guide.