Swan Island Dahlias

Swan Island Dahlias is a family-owned dahlia nursery and mail-order retailer based in Canby, Oregon, United States. It is recognized as the largest and most significant dahlia-growing operation in the United States, cultivating more than 350 varieties on over 40 acres. The business was founded in 1927 in Portland, Oregon, by Frances McCarter (later McDuffee) and her husband under the name Rex Dahlia Gardens. It was renamed Portland Dahlia Gardens in 1934 and Swan Island Dahlias in 1948, taking its name from Swan Island in the Willamette River, where the company once had a storage building. After the site was converted to a military shipyard during World War II, the operation moved to Canby, first on leased land and from 1953 on its own 20 acres. In 1963, Nick and Margaret Gitts purchased the farm and expanded it to nearly 50 acres. Their sons, Nicholas and Ted, joined in the 1970s and took over in 1991, strengthening wholesale and mail-order catalog operations and modernizing sales with computers. Today, the farm remains family-owned and operated, with Nicholas Gitts leading and his daughter Heather Gitts-Schloe managing the office, website, and day-to-day business. The company sells dahlia tubers, garden stakes, gloves, and gift cards through its website and mail-order catalog, shipping via the US Postal Service. It is known for its Annual Dahlia Festival, which attracts thousands of visitors to Canby to see the fields in bloom, attend gardening classes, and discover varieties. The farm generates annual revenue of approximately $1.5 million. Its product line includes many award-winning and staff-favorite varieties, such as Diva, Bride to Be, Bluetiful, Mikayla Miranda, Brideziila, and Giggles, with detailed specifications for bloom size, plant height, bloom time, and color.

Swan Island Dahlias was founded in 1927 in Portland, Oregon, by Frances McCarter (later McDuffee) and her husband under the name Rex Dahlia Gardens. In 1934, the business was renamed Portland Dahlia Gardens, and in 1948 it became Swan Island Dahlias, named after Swan Island in the Willamette River, where the company had a storage building. During World War II, the area was converted into a military shipyard, prompting the operation to relocate to Canby, Oregon, initially on leased land and from 1953 on its own 20 acres. In 1952, Frances's son Dick McCarter and his wife Shirley took over the business. In 1963, Nick and Margaret Gitts, who had previously owned a dairy farm and a small dahlia business called Laurel Valley Dahlias in Washington, purchased Swan Island Dahlias and moved their family of seven to Oregon. They expanded the farm to nearly 50 acres. Their sons, Nicholas and Ted, joined the business in the 1970s and later purchased the farm as their parents retired, taking over leadership in 1991. They strengthened wholesale operations, expanded the mail-order catalog business, grew the annual dahlia show to attract tens of thousands of visitors, and modernized sales with computers. Today, the farm remains family-owned and operated, with Nicholas Gitts leading and his daughter Heather Gitts-Schloe managing the office, website, and day-to-day business. The third generation, including Jennifer Gitts-Eubanks and Derek Gitts, is also involved. The company generates annual revenue of approximately $1.5 million.

• 2010

  Introduced the Diva dahlia variety.

• 1998

  Introduced the Giggles dahlia variety.

• 1991

  Nicholas and Ted took over leadership, expanding wholesale and mail-order operations.

• 1975

  Sons Nicholas and Ted joined as partners.

• 1963

  Nick and Margaret Gitts purchased the farm and moved their family to Oregon.

• 1953

  Moved to own 20 acres in Canby, Oregon.

• 1952

  Dick McCarter and his wife Shirley took over the business.

• 1948

  Renamed Swan Island Dahlias.

• 1934

  Renamed Portland Dahlia Gardens.

• 1927

  Founded in Portland, Oregon, as Rex Dahlia Gardens by Frances McCarter and her husband.

America's largest and most significant dahlia nursery, offering a wide selection of premium dahlia tubers and a celebrated annual festival.

• Diva Dahlia Tuber

• Bride to Be Dahlia Tuber

• Bluetiful Dahlia Tuber

• Mikayla Miranda Dahlia Tuber

• Brideziila Dahlia Tuber

• Giggles Dahlia Tuber

1. 1Swan Island Dahlias official websitedahlias.com
2. 2About Us - Swan Island Dahliasdahlias.com
3. 3Diva Dahlia Tuber | Swan Island Dahliasdahlias.com
4. 4GIGGLES | Swan Island Dahliasdahlias.com
5. 5Swan Island Dahlias - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Swan Island Dahlias - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org