In August 2024, I had the privilege of joining our merchant team on several field visits in Belgium just a short drive from our Breck’s Holland office. After wandering through a few breathtaking begonia fields, we had the opportunity to visit the legendary Belgian dahlia breeder behind the iconic Jowey Dahlias: Jozef Weyts.
As someone who’s never met a Jowey dahlia I didn’t love, this visit was truly a treat. Jozef has developed over 50 dependable dahlia varieties and has made a lasting impact on the flower world. One of his most beloved creations is Jowey Winnie, named after his wife and my personal favorite with its captivating blend of pink, peach, and mango tones.
Known for their sturdy stems, long vase life, and exceptional performance as cut flowers, Jozef’s or “Jowey” dahlias are consistently sought after. We’ve proudly offered many of his standout varieties on Brecks.com, and seeing the passion behind them firsthand was an unforgettable experience.
I knew we were in the right place the moment we pulled up, his front yard was a living dahlia catalog, bursting with labeled blooms in every direction.
As we arrived, "Jeff" and his wife welcomed us warmly, offering a shady seat and a cold Belgian beer. We settled into their backyard, where over 2,000 dahlias stretched out before us, and began talking about his journey in dahlia breeding.
At one point, he humbly asked, “Why do you want to visit me? I’m just a guy who loves dahlias and grows them in his backyard.” Little does he know, among us dahlia lovers, he’s a legend.
From Gifted Tubers to World-Class Blooms: Jozef's Dahlia Journey Since 1979
Jozef’s journey with dahlias began in 1979, when his uncle gifted him his first tubers. From there, he started trading tubers with neighbors, gradually expanding his collection in both color and variety. By the 1990s, his passion had grown into a serious pursuit, he began collecting seeds and breeding his own dahlias.
Drawn especially to the beauty of ball dahlias, Jozef developed some of his most popular and enduring varieties, including Jowey Winnie, Jowey Linda, Jowey Mirella, Jowey Nicky and more.
During our visit, Mr. Weyts explained the origin of the “Jowey” name. It’s a combination of his first and last names—Jo(zef) and Wey(ts). But he was quick to clarify the pronunciation: “It’s not Jo-WEE,” he said with a smile. “It’s ‘Jo-way,’ like ‘No way.’”
Next, Jozef handed each of us an umbrella to shield us from the hot sun as we strolled through his expansive garden. We spent hours engaged in deep conversation, exploring both his well-known dahlia favorites and his latest creations.
Jozef is meticulous in his breeding process. He selects for strong stems, ideal bloom position, high petal counts, and overall uniqueness. If a seedling doesn’t meet his strict standards, “it’s out!” he declared.
One detail that stood out was his focus on bloom angle. For Jozef, the perfect dahlia bloom sits at a precise 45-degree angle. “If it’s facing you directly, it’s wrong,” he explained. It must tilt forward, just enough to show off the flower’s beauty at its best. I especially loved hearing the stories behind how Jozef names his dahlias. One of my favorites was about Jowey Althea. A little girl once approached him and asked, “Will you name a dahlia after me?” He smiled and replied, “What’s your name?”
“Althea,” she said.
And just like that, Jowey Althea was born.
First Look at the Future: Previewing Jozef’s Stunning New Dahlia Seedlings
Jozef had a special table set aside, displaying his seedling candidates, and invited us to share our thoughts. Naturally, we were impressed by all of them but a few truly stood out to me. One was a stunning ball dahlia with an incredible mix of colors, and another favorite was a striking purple bloom with lime green at the center it reminded me of a passion flower.
It was exciting to be asked for our input and a real privilege to get a first look at these promising new varieties before anyone else.
Breck’s Secures Exclusive Jowey Dahlias from Jozef Weyts
After touring his beautiful dahlia garden with 2,000 varieties, we took a break from the hot summer sun and his wife was nice enough to invite us into their home for cake and coffee (Coca-Cola for us Americans).
After much anticipation and lively dahlia discussions, Edwin, Director of Breck’s Holland, has successfully secured two stunning Jowey dahlia varieties exclusively from renowned breeder Jozef Weyts!
Coming Spring 2028 to Brecks.com:
Jowey Amber
Jowey Danira
Jowey Picotee
These dahlia tubers are currently being grown in Holland and will be available at Brecks.com in 2028—mark your calendars!
Thank you for letting this dahlia lover tag along, it was an unforgettable experience to witness dahlia breeding at its finest, and to learn from one of the very best in the field.
Annette Coppess
Senior Ecommerce Manager
Dahlias are available for spring shipping reserve yours today!
Click here to explore the full collection of Jowey Dahlias from Breck’s. These beauties are available for pre-order in the fall and will ship in the spring. If a variety is currently out of stock, be sure to sign up for a notification we’ll let you know as soon as it’s available again.