Jowey Winnie Dahlia

What Jowey Winnie is

Jowey Winnie is a ball dahlia with fully double, globe-shaped blooms in deep burgundy-red, typically 3-4 inches across. It grows 3-4 feet tall, blooms from midsummer through frost, and is widely used as a cut flower in US gardens.

The Jowey series is a group of ball dahlias bred in the Netherlands by Johan Witteman. The series includes dozens of colors — Jowey Winnie is one of the most widely available in the US market and the most commonly listed burgundy-red in the group.

Classification

Ball dahlia classification: The American Dahlia Society classifies ball dahlias by bloom diameter. BA (ball) is 3.5-4.5 inches; BB (miniature ball) is under 3.5 inches. Jowey Winnie sits at the boundary and is listed differently by different registries. Both classifications share the same globular, fully-reflexed petal form.

For a full breakdown of dahlia classifications and other ball dahlia varieties, see our types of dahlias guide.

Growing Jowey Winnie dahlias

Site and soil

Jowey Winnie, like all dahlias, needs:

• Full sun: 8+ hours of direct sunlight daily
• Well-draining soil: Dahlias rot quickly in waterlogged conditions
• pH 6.0-7.0: Slightly acidic to neutral
• Organic matter: Work 2-3 inches of compost into the bed before planting

Planting tubers

Plant tubers when soil temperature reaches 60°F and frost danger has passed.

Planting depth: 4-6 inches deep, with the eye (growth bud) facing up. Plant horizontally.

Spacing: 18-24 inches between plants.

Do not water at planting. The tuber holds enough moisture to sustain itself until growth emerges. Watering immediately after planting encourages rot. Wait until you see growth above soil (typically 2-4 weeks), then begin regular watering.

For detailed tuber planting instructions, see our how to plant dahlia tubers guide and our dahlia tubers guide.

Staking

Dahlias 3 feet or taller need staking. Set a 5-6 foot stake at planting time — before the tuber sprouts — so you don’t spear the tuber later. Drive it 12-18 inches into the ground.

As the plant grows, tie the main stem loosely to the stake every 12 inches using soft twine or Velcro plant ties. Jowey Winnie at full height with multiple stems can be top-heavy, particularly after rain.

Pinching

When the plant reaches 12-16 inches tall, pinch out the terminal bud — the growing tip of the main stem. This causes the plant to branch, producing 4-8 side stems instead of one. Each side stem will produce its own blooms.

Trade-off: Pinching delays first bloom by 2-3 weeks but doubles or triples the total number of cut stems produced over the season. For cut flower production, pinching is standard practice.

Watering

Once growth is established, water deeply 1-2 times per week — 1-2 inches total. Water at the base of the plant; overhead watering wets the blooms and invites botrytis (gray mold) on ball dahlias, which can trap moisture in their dense petals.

Reduce watering as fall approaches and nights cool below 50°F.

Fertilizer

Apply a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer at planting (0-10-10 or 5-10-15) and again every 3-4 weeks through the blooming season. High nitrogen produces foliage at the expense of blooms.

Cutting Jowey Winnie for arrangements

Jowey Winnie is exceptional as a cut flower. The dense, globular form holds its shape in arrangements, and the burgundy-red color is versatile — it pairs with whites, creams, peach, coral, orange, and deep purple.

When to cut

Cut stems when blooms are half to fully open. Ball dahlias, unlike decorative types, do not continue opening significantly after cutting. A bloom cut too early may not open fully in the vase.

Best time of day: Early morning, before heat builds. Flowers cut in afternoon sun often wilt before they can take up water.

Cutting technique

1. Cut stems at an angle, 12-18 inches long, with clean bypass pruners.
2. Remove all leaves that would sit below the waterline.
3. Immediately place stems in a bucket of cool water.
4. Allow stems to hydrate in a cool, dark location for 1-2 hours before arranging.

Vase life

With proper care, Jowey Winnie lasts 7-10 days in a vase:

• Start with a clean vase and fresh cool water
• Add floral preservative or a pinch of sugar and a few drops of bleach
• Change water every 2 days; recut stems at each change
• Keep away from heat vents, direct sun, and fruit (ethylene from fruit accelerates petal drop)

Winter tuber storage

In Zones 7 and below, dig tubers after the first killing frost kills the foliage.

1. Wait 2 weeks after frost kills foliage to allow tubers to finish storing energy.
2. Cut stems to 4-6 inches. Dig a wide circle (18-24 inches) with a garden fork.
3. Lift the entire clump; shake off loose soil.
4. Cure in a cool, dry, shaded location at 50-60°F for 2-3 days.
5. Label the clump with variety name.
6. Pack in barely-damp vermiculite or peat in a cardboard box.
7. Store at 40-50°F, in the dark, through winter.

Check monthly. Remove any tubers that show soft spots.

For complete storage and division instructions, see our dahlia tubers guide.

Pairing Jowey Winnie in the garden

The deep burgundy-red of Jowey Winnie pairs well with:

• Cafe au Lait dahlia (blush-peachy-beige): creates a soft, romantic contrast
• White ball dahlias (any white ball variety): clean contrast that makes the burgundy pop
• Sweet Nathalie dahlia (soft pink waterlily): cool pink against deep red
• Wizard of Oz dahlia (soft yellow-green waterlily): complementary color pairing

For companion planting combinations and other dahlia varieties, see our Sweet Nathalie dahlia guide and Wizard of Oz dahlia guide.

Where to buy Jowey Winnie tubers

Jowey Winnie is available from US specialty dahlia growers including:

• Floret Flower Farm — Pacific Northwest grower; ships March-April
• Swan Island Dahlias — Oregon; one of the largest US dahlia growers
• Longfield Gardens — ships widely; good availability
• Eden Brothers — online bulk supplier; competitive pricing

Order by January for spring shipping — popular varieties sell out early. Expect to pay $6-$15 per tuber depending on source and size.