FlowerDahlia
David Howard Dahlia
David Howard Dahlia is a stunning formal decorative variety that glows with apricot-orange blooms set against deep bronze-purple foliage, creating a striking color contrast that stops you mid-garden walk. These 4-5 inch flowers bloom reliably from summer through fall, reaching just 32-36 inches tall with an upright, manageable habit. Hardy in zones 3-10 and reaching maturity in 80-100 days, it's an annual that delivers bold color and sophisticated form without demanding an enormous footprint in your garden.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
—
Zones
3-10
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The glowing apricot-orange blooms paired with dark bronze-purple foliage make David Howard instantly recognizable among dahlias, offering a color combination you won't find in every border. Its formal decorative structure produces perfectly symmetrical 4-5 inch flowers on a compact upright plant, making it equally at home in containers or traditional beds. Summer-to-fall bloom timing means you'll have consistent color when many other garden flowers begin to fade, extending your season well into autumn.
Common Uses
David Howard Dahlia is grown primarily as a cut flower and garden ornament, valued for its striking blooms that hold up beautifully in arrangements. The formal decorative structure and long stems on a compact plant make it excellent for floral design work, where the apricot-orange color and dark foliage contrast provide natural visual interest without additional greenery.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Plant dahlia tubers in spring after the last frost date has passed and soil has warmed. Space them 24 inches apart in a location receiving full sun. Plant tubers 4-6 inches deep with the eye (sprouting point) facing upward.
Harvesting
Cut David Howard blooms in early morning when petals are fully open but still crisp and turgid. Choose flowers where the bloom has fully unfurled into its formal decorative shape. Harvest by cutting stems at least 12-18 inches long, removing lower foliage, and immediately placing stems in cool water to condition before arranging.
Pruning
Pinch back the main stem when plants reach 12 inches tall to encourage branching and a bushier, more densely flowered plant. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to promote continuous flowering and redirect energy toward new flower production rather than seed development.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Scientific Classification
Dahlia ’David Howard’
Growth Habit
Upright