Bell’s Stripey Vassio

Sometimes nature hands you a little surprise, and all you can do is step back and marvel at the little treats it offers. Bell’s Stripey Vassio is one of those unexpected gifts, a striking sport of Vassio Meggos that appeared with creamy white petals streaked in soft lavender pink—a delicate and beautiful trait too special to ignore. For three years now, it has bloomed true, year after year, proving its stability (although nothing’s guaranteed in the world of dahlia genetics) and earning its place among my favorites.

Like its parent, this dahlia towers above the rest, with blooms so massive they rival the size of my 10-year-old’s head. But those delicate stripes set it apart, adding a little extra layer of sweetness. Selecting a sport always feels less like creating and more like collaborating with nature—a partnership that reminds you why you grow flowers in the first place.