2022 orange dahlia trial. I say trial, I mean we just planted 4 different orange dahlias to see which was our preference.
David Howard
Summer Flame
Mango Madness
Mrs Eileen
Overall
Best dahlia was David Howard, superb tight flowers of a tennis ball size, deep vibrant orange with varying intensities of orange, abundant flowers, superb dark foliage of attractive cut leaf shape, strong habit; upright and self supporting (specimens in question about 30-35 inches). Still looking great mid October, arguably best at this time with the seasonal light and plenty of moisture.
Second on performance Summer Flame, abundant and long flowering. Specimens in question low growing but also not given support, good slug resistance early season, very good mid size flowers not dissimilar to David Howard however more pink orange to David Howard’s yellow orange. The leaf colour is more grass green and the combination is less refined than David Howard to my tastes. A useful orange dahlia in the right context. Brilliant as cut flower for the house I would imagine.
Mango madness could be excellent but would need to be encouraged to be as tall as possible and with flattering companions. Flowers are large and gorgeous with pink through pale orange colour. Excellent to cut and take inside. Not as floriferous as the smaller flowered types. But still, a greater and more complex colour range from yellows through orange to pink.
Mrs Eileen not great in my context, very little slug resistance – had to lift both specimens and pot them to 10L pots then to the greenhouse where they finally flowered ok. Flowers are cactus type or semi cactus I don’t know the difference or even care. But just for reference. Might work paired or grouped with other different colour cactus types. On consideration Mrs Eileen not as bad as first thought. Seems a fairly tall dahlia. Large flowers orange centres yellow extremities. Cactus types not high on my list but I could be won over. (See photos)
Tend&Grow 