EMBRACE

BB-SC-BR 3211

Form: Semi Cactus   

Size: Small 4-6"

Color: Bronze 

Hybridizer: Griffin E. (Australia) 

Introduction Year: 1999*

February 19, 2024 Misfit Monday Post: 

I just about gave up this morning researching about EMBRACE. Every road was basically a dead end. ADS classification has EMBRACE listed as an E. Griffin introduction out of Australia from 1999* but no other varieties are listed as E. Griffin. Google did provide me with the name Ted Griffin and also some information about other introductions under the prefix "SCARBOROUGH" however the only "SCARBOROUGH" in the ADS are from the UK under Weekes. Desperately I turned to the archive of ADS bulletins and struck gold! EMBRACE was awarded the Stanley Johnson Medal in 2005 and a great article was written about the hybridizer Edwin (Ted) Griffin from Australia. Full article included in the last 3 pictures of this post. Definitely worth the read and explains so much. As for EMBRACE in the garden, it is a small bronze colored semi cactus dahlia. For me the overall plant size is about 3.5 feet and robust, covered in beautiful peachy blooms. As for a show bloom it is definitely a winner, as the numbers show. However there are many who feel it should be reclassified as a straight cactus and because of this it sometimes gets pushed back. Regardless it's symmetry and color often outshine its flaws and it wins. I would definitely deem it a classic must have in the dahlia world