Sandia Susan

Sandia Susan is a luminous orange waterlily bred by Steve and Sandy Boley of Birch Bay Dahlias and introduced in 2017. Her broad, gently cupped petals open in soft apricot-orange rather than harsh citrus tones, creating a warm, floating flower with the graceful silhouette the Sandia waterlilies are known for. 

🌱 2027 Grow-Out

Sandia Susan will arrive at Hedge & Alchemy in Spring 2027 and will be grown here for the first time that season. She will not be offered in our 2027 tuber sale.

📋 Cultivar Notes

• Breeder / Hybridizer: Steve & Sandy Boley / Birch Bay Dahlias
• Year of Introduction: 2017
• Origin: USA
• Form: Waterlily (WL)
• ADS Classification Number: 7303 (Waterlily / Orange) 
• Bloom Size: Approximately 5 to 6 inches
• Color: Soft light orange to apricot-orange
• Cut Flower Status: Excellent. Sandia Susan is known for strong stems, abundant flowering, and a useful medium-size bloom that works beautifully in arrangements. 
• Show & Exhibition Flower Status: Yes. Sandia Susan performed strongly in ADS trial gardens before introduction, earning qualifying scores across multiple gardens. 

🌱 Growing Notes

• Bloom: Approximately 5 to 6 inches, with broad, softly cupped petals in glowing light orange and apricot tones. The petals create an airy waterlily form rather than a dense decorative flower.
• Plant Height & Habit: Generally around 3½ to 4 feet tall, with an upright, productive habit. 
• Growing Notes: Particularly valued for strong stems and prolific flowering. Like several newer waterlily varieties, the blooms may cup inward in the evening, giving the flowers a slightly different character as the light fades. 
• Tuber Yield: To be tracked during our 2027 grow-out.