Dahlia Melody Dora
Flowering its heart out, Dahlia ‘Melody Dora’ makes quite an impression on onlookers with its masses of pink-salmon flowers fading to orange-yellow towards their hearts.
Flowering its heart out, Dahlia 'Melody Dora' makes quite an impression on onlookers with its masses of pink-salmon flowers fading to orange-yellow towards their hearts. Borne on sturdy stems, the fully double flowers, up to 5 in. wide (12 cm), contrast beautifully with the lush dark green foliage. They are not top-heavy and remain upright and straight even when it rains. Blooming massively from midsummer until Frost, this dahlia grows up to 26 in. tall (65 cm) and is an excellent choice for beds and borders, patios, decks, or balconies.
- 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 Decorative Dahlias. These are double dahlias with broad, flat-tipped petals that are sometimes wavy. The flowers are normally large and the plants easily top 40 inches tall, although there are even taller varieties. They can be formal with flat petals evenly and regularly placed throughout the flowers, or informal with generally flat petals, sometimes slightly rolled at the tips, but with irregular arrangement of formation. They are all real eye-catchers!
Requirements
Hardiness | 8 – 11 |
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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 | 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm) |
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 |