Glorie van Heemstede Dahlia Tubers

• Variety: Glorie van Heemstede
• Type: Waterlily
• Colour: Golden yellow
• Flower size: 15cm across
• Height: 130cm
• Spread: 60cm
• Flowering: July to November
• Cutting: Yes. Long stems, erect blooms, excellent vase life
• Exhibition: Yes. Winner of the Stredwick Medal
• Wind resistance: Good for a waterlily type
• RHS AGM: Yes
• Origin: Bred by Cor Geerlings, Heemstede, Netherlands, 1947
• 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

Glorie van Heemstede: A Breeder's First Success, and One of the Dahlia World's Highest Honours

The name translates as "Glory of Heemstede," after the Dutch town near the bulb fields where it was bred. Cor Geerlings raised it in 1947 as his first ever dahlia seedling to make it into commerce. He went on to breed many famous varieties including Cornel, Jomanda and Ivanetti, and was made honorary member of the English Dahlia Society. But this was where it started. A beginner's first success that won the Stredwick Medal, one of the dahlia world's highest awards.

The flowers are a clean, glowing golden yellow, 15cm across, in the flat, open waterlily form. The blooms stand erect on long, strong stems, which is unusual for a waterlily. Many waterlily dahlias nod or droop. Glorie van Heemstede holds its flowers up, making it a better cutter and show variety than most in its class. It also has good wind and pest resistance for the type.

At 130cm it's a tall plant, best at the back of a border or in a dedicated cutting bed. It holds the RHS AGM and has been in continuous commercial production for nearly eighty years. The Geerlings nursery continued through Cor's son Jan and daughter-in-law Elly after his death in 2012.

Placing Glorie van Heemstede

Golden yellow waterlilies need darker neighbours to shine. The deep plum globes of Cornel (bred by the same Geerlings nursery, ball form, 120cm) give you a dark contrast and a family connection in the planting. Dark Spirit (near-black decorative, 90cm in front) provides colour depth. For a yellow-and-white scheme, the shell pink waterlily Gerrie Hoek (same type, softer colour) makes a natural companion. Plant in groups of three at 75 to 80cm spacing for the best border effect.

Why buy from Ashridge?

Our dahlia tubers are Dutch first-class quality, imported direct and hand-graded by us. 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, Which? Best Plant Supplier, and human support from the team in Somerset. Browse our waterlily dahlia range or the complete dahlia collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Stredwick Medal?

One of the highest awards in the dahlia world, given to varieties that demonstrate exceptional quality and performance. Glorie van Heemstede won it, which confirmed what growers already knew: this is a dahlia that performs at the highest level. The RHS AGM confirms the same from the garden side.

Is Glorie van Heemstede good for showing?

Exhibition-grade. The erect blooms, long stems and clean yellow colour make it a strong show bench contender. Disbud to one flower per stem for the biggest, most symmetrical blooms. Feed consistently and water evenly.

How does the Geerlings nursery connect to other dahlias?

Cor Geerlings of Heemstede bred this as his first success in 1947. He went on to create Cornel (1994, named after himself and his wife Nellie), plus Jomanda, Ivanetti and many others. Planting Glorie van Heemstede and Cornel together gives you two varieties from the same legendary nursery, nearly fifty years apart, in completely different forms.

Will Glorie van Heemstede grow in a pot?

At 130cm it's too tall for most containers. It belongs in a border or cutting bed where it can stretch to full height. For a yellow dahlia in a pot, Golden Sceptre (bright yellow ball, 90cm) is more manageable. Our pots guide covers container options.

Does it handle weather well?

Better than most waterlily types. The flowers are noted for wind and pest resistance, and the erect stems don't nod the way some waterlily dahlias do. It still needs staking at 130cm, and like all flat-petalled dahlias, heavy rain will collect in the blooms. But for a waterlily, it's among the tougher ones. Full growing advice in our dahlia growing guide.