Dahlia Totally Tangerine

Dahlia 'Totally Tangerine' is an anemone-flowered variety. It is one of the recent cultivars that prioritise smaller, somewhat nostalgic flowers that captivate with their delicate architecture and their colours that are both soft and warm. It produces an abundance of medium-sized flowers composed of a collar of petals in a smoky lavender-pink shade tinged with salmon, displaying a large fringed heart in a deep rusty-orange tone with hints of golden yellow. It blooms from summer until the first frosts. Its beautiful colours work perfectly with bright blue flowers and the foliage of cotinus, for example, both in flower beds and bouquets.

Dahlias belong to the Asteraceae family and are originally from the high plateaus of Mexico. There are currently thousands of horticultural varieties that have conquered gardens worldwide. They are tender perennials with fleshy tubers.

Dahlias are classified based on the shape of their flowers. 'Totally Tangerine' is classified as a decorative dahlia with anemone-like flowers. In this group, the coloured ligules of the head are arranged in pompons in the centre and surrounded by a wider collar. In this variety, the heads are 7 to 8cm (3in) in diameter, and the outermost ligules are almost flat, arranged in a single collar, in a smoky pink shade washed with orange. The ones in the centre are shorter and fringed, displaying a deep coppery-orange shade. They are tightly packed together like a big cushion. Flowering takes place from July (sometimes as early as the end of June) until October. The plant will reach a height of 80 to 90cm (32 to 35in), with a bushy and dense habit. The highly branched stems are hollow, and the leaves are divided into 3 or 5 toothed leaflets. The leaves and stems are of a medium green colour.

Remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms. You can use cut flowers to make colourful bouquets, combining them with other varieties. 

The delightful flowering of this variety looks wonderful displayed against beautiful foliage and the delicate spikes of grasses (Briza media, panicum, molinia, calamagrostis). This combination will emphasise the contrast between the delicacy of tall grasses and the more refined character of the dahlia's flower. Amaranths, cosmos, perennial salvias, and echinaceas are also perfect companions, as they bloom simultaneously.

Dahlias are stars of borders and ornamental gardens, confidently accompanying the most beautiful flowers. However, they are also appreciated alongside vegetable plants. In Mexico, this tuberous plant was first cultivated as a root vegetable for consumption. Its poor taste qualities quickly saw it categorised as an ornamental plant. Since then, the interest in their beautiful exuberance has never waned.