Dahlia Color Spectacle

Such a fabulous cocktail of color provided by Dahlia ‘Color Spectacle’ with its profusion of spectacular coral orange flowers elegantly tipped in white! The fully double flowers, up to 8-10 in. wide (20-25 cm) feature elegant, elongated velvety petals. When the light hits the bloom they shimmer, and it is cheerful and bedazzling to behold.

Such a fabulous cocktail of color provided by Dahlia 'Color Spectacle' with its profusion of spectacular coral orange flowers elegantly tipped in white! The fully double flowers, up to 8-10 in. wide (20-25 cm) feature elegant, elongated velvety petals. When the light hits the bloom they shimmer, and it is cheerful and bedazzling to behold.

  • Blooming prodigiously from July until Frost, this dahlia grows up to 3-4 ft. (90-120 cm) and is an excellent choice to create a lovely garden display or for show.
  • Winner of multiple awards (over 200 according to the American Dahlia Society!)
  • A great pick for borders, containers, or as cut flowers thanks to its superb vase life. Did you know that the more you cut Dahlia flowers, the more flowers you get? This makes Dahlias twice as nice: pretty in a vase, pretty in the garden. A great big flower in a vase or floating in a shallow bowl makes the perfect eye-catcher.
  • Best flowering occurs in full sun, but light shade will be welcomed in hot summer areas.
  • Provide consistent moisture during the growing season and do not allow soils to dry out. Plant in a sheltered location to protect your dahlias from strong winds.
  • Best in groups of 5 for best visual effect. Deadhead spent flowers to promote the growth of additional flower buds.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • If you live in a cool area (hardiness zones 3-7) and you want to save your dahlia bulbs, or more precisely, your dahlia tubers for next spring, you may dig them up before the first frost and store them over winter before replanting them next spring. Store them in boxes, covered with moistened sand in a cool, dark, frost-free place where the temperature remains between 45-50 °F (7-10°C).
  • This Dahlia is a member of the Cactus Dahlias which have the most exceptional blooms. The Dahlia flowers have beautiful ‘spiny’ petals that are rolled up more than two-thirds of their length. Sometimes, the petals are straight from the base to the tip, but they can also curve inward or outward. The petals are often narrow and pointed, and some have deeply incised tips. These are the ones known as spider dahlias, and they make real eye-catchers!

Requirements

Hardiness 8
– 11

Heat Zones 1
– 11

Climate Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Dahlia
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)Fall
Height 3'
– 4'
(90cm
– 120cm)
Spread 1'
– 2'
(30cm
– 60cm)
Spacing 18″
– 24″
(45cm
– 60cm)
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Attracts Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Patio and Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage