Bed Head - Fall

Bed Head may be one of the most appropriately named dahlias in the field. Its narrow petals curl, twist and tumble in every direction, giving each bloom that perfectly imperfect, just-rolled-out-of-bed look. No two flowers seem quite the same, and that wild texture is exactly what makes it so much fun to grow.

The blooms are a vibrant orange to coral-orange, with some flowers developing streaks of red that can deepen the overall color considerably. At roughly 4 inches across, they are not enormous, but they certainly do not disappear in a bouquet. The incurved cactus petals create so much movement that even a single stem can add an entirely different texture to an arrangement.

In our market bouquets, Bed Head is one of those flowers I reach for when everything is starting to look a little too well behaved. Tucked among peach, rust, burgundy, golden yellow or even softer lavender tones, those curly petals loosen everything up and give the bouquet a more playful, freshly gathered feel.

Local florists can have a lot of fun with this one too. Its unusual shape brings contrast alongside round ball dahlias and larger decorative varieties, and the exceptionally long stems give designers plenty to work with. The plants themselves can grow 5–6 feet tall, so this is definitely a variety I plan to support well from the beginning of the season.

For wedding work, I particularly like Bed Head when a bride wants something colorful, organic and a little less traditional. It fits beautifully into late-summer and fall designs where warm oranges, corals, rusts and reds are already part of the story.

And somehow, the flowers seem to get even more character after they are cut—the petals continue to curl, making the bloom look increasingly tousled in the vase.

For the gardener who prefers dahlias with personality, movement and absolutely no interest in looking perfectly groomed, Bed Head deserves a place in the garden.

Bloom Color: Vibrant Orange / Coral-Orange with Occasional Red Streaking
Bloom Form: Incurved Cactus
Bloom Size: Approximately 4 inches
Plant Height: Approximately 5–6 feet
Hybridizer: Nick Gitts, Swan Island Dahlias
Introduced: 2005
Best For: Cutting gardens, market bouquets, florist work & bold late-summer designs