How a single tuber can solve the late-season color drought while elevating floral design to art
The Late Summer Garden Dilemma
By mid-August, most gardens hit what floral designers call “the color wall” – that disappointing period when spring blooms have faded and autumn flowers haven’t yet arrived. Many gardeners resort to artificial solutions: dye-treated flowers that bleed color, or worse, plastic substitutes that fool no one. The result? Bouquets that lack authenticity and gardens that lose their magic right when we need them most.
Enter Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’, the anemone-form marvel that bridges seasonal gaps with its marmalade-colored center and golden-orange petals kissed with rosy pink. Unlike temporary fixes, this dahlia variety delivers real botanical brilliance from midsummer through first frost, solving three universal floral frustrations:
- Seasonal color scarcity when gardens need it most
- Bouquet fatigue from repetitive floral arrangements
- Design limitations imposed by conventional flower forms
Three-Tiered Brilliance: Dissecting Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’
1. Physical Architecture
The flower’s structural genius lies in its anemone form – a double-layered design featuring:
- Textured center disc (30-40 tubular florets) in marmalade hues
- Outer ray petals (8-12 per bloom) with golden-orange topsides
- Rosy pink undersides creating dimensional color play
- Sturdy 36″ stems supporting 3-4″ diameter blooms
2. Chromatic Chemistry
This dahlia’s mesmerizing color profile comes from three pigment families working in concert:
- Carotenoids producing the golden-orange base
- Anthocyanins creating the rosy underside wash
- Flavonoids contributing to the center’s marmalade tones
3. Pollinator Mechanics
The flower’s design serves dual purposes:
- Visual beacon – UV patterns invisible to humans guide pollinators to the nectar-rich center
- Landing platform – flat ray petals provide perfect perches for butterflies
- Color gradient – changing hues signal nectar availability throughout the day
How ‘Totally Tangerine’ Outperforms Top Dahlia Varieties
We benchmarked against three best-selling dahlias to demonstrate why this variety deserves garden space:
| Feature | ‘Totally Tangerine’ | ‘Café au Lait’ | ‘Bishop of Llandaff’ | ‘Thomas Edison’ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloom Duration | 10-12 weeks | 8-10 weeks | 6-8 weeks | 8-10 weeks |
| Stem Strength | Excellent (supports heavy blooms) | Good (may need staking) | Fair (requires staking) | Good (may need staking) |
| Vase Life | 7-9 days | 5-7 days | 4-6 days | 6-8 days |
| Color Complexity | 3-tone gradient | Single tone | 2-tone contrast | Single tone |
| Pollinator Appeal | High (butterfly favorite) | Medium | High | Low |
The Emotional Dividend
Beyond specifications, ‘Totally Tangerine’ delivers intangible benefits competitors can’t match:
- Nostalgia trigger – evokes memories of summer sunsets
- Designer credibility
- Conversation starter – unique form draws questions and compliments
From Frustration to Floral Triumph: A Gardener’s Transformation
Initial State
Sarah K., a Massachusetts-based garden designer, faced annual disappointment when her peonies faded and left her cutting garden devoid of showstoppers for August weddings. “Clients expected lush arrangements, but I was stuck using the same zinnias and rudbeckia every year,” she recalls.
The Breaking Point
After losing a lucrative contract to a competitor using more interesting flowers, Sarah researched late-blooming alternatives. Trial plants of common dahlias failed to impress – either too stiff for arrangements or too short-lived when cut.
Discovery
A floral design workshop introduced her to ‘Totally Tangerine’. “The instructor used it as the ‘hero flower’ in three different arrangements – each time looking completely different depending on how the light hit those incredible petals.”
Transformation
Now Sarah dedicates an entire 10′ row to this variety. “It’s changed my business. The flowers photograph incredibly, last over a week in arrangements, and clients specifically request them. That color gradient adds movement to bouquets that flat-colored flowers can’t match.”
Why Gardeners Are Switching to This Unusual Dahlia
For those searching unique cut flowers for late summer or long-lasting dahlias for arrangements, ‘Totally Tangerine’ solves multiple problems with one stunning plant:
For Cutting Gardens
As a dahlia with exceptional vase life, it outperforms most cut flowers in durability. The sturdy stems resist wilting, while the color intensifies rather than fades after cutting – a rare trait among orange blooms.
For Pollinator Gardens
Butterfly enthusiasts report this variety attracts more pollinators than typical dahlias. The flat, open center provides easy nectar access, while the UV patterns act as insect landing lights.
For Small Spaces
Unlike dinnerplate dahlias that require substantial room, this 3-4″ bloom works in container gardens for patios or urban balcony gardens. Multiple blooms per plant deliver big impact from minimal space.
Ready to Transform Your Late Season Garden?
Each ‘Totally Tangerine’ dahlia tuber produces 20-30 blooms from midsummer through fall.
Tubers ship beginning late March – preorder to guarantee your selection
More Than a Flower: A Design Revolution
Dahlia ‘Totally Tangerine’ represents a paradigm shift in late-season gardening. Where others see August as the garden’s twilight, this variety reveals it as a golden hour – literally. Its multidimensional color, architectural form, and exceptional performance address both practical gardening needs and emotional design cravings.
As floral designer Sarah concludes: “It’s not just another dahlia – it’s the difference between making arrangements and creating art. That color gradient does half my design work for me.”
For gardeners tired of the late-summer slump, this tuber offers more than blooms – it delivers continuous creativity from midsummer through fall’s first frost.