Dahlia Mrs Eileen

The Dahlia ‘Mrs Eileen’ is an intensely coloured Decorative dahlia: its large flowers in a pumpkin-orange are particularly bright and warm. With abundant flowering, this variety is as effective in the garden as it is in a vase. The diameter and form of its flower heads place it in a premium category; they will create a focal point at the heart of a border or in a large cut flower arrangement.

This tuberous plant belongs to the Asteraceae family, descending from dahlia species native to Mexico and Central America. A tender perennial, its tubers must be protected from the cold in winter.
The dahlia 'Mrs Eileen' was bred by the British horticulturist Leslie L. Hunt. It was introduced in 1970. This cultivar has been well received in the horticultural world and has won several awards, notably distinctions in competitions that evaluate flower quality.
This cultivar is classified among the decorative dahlias, characterised by double flowers with broad petals. It is also classified in the large-flowered decorative category, as its heads can reach 15‑20 cm in diameter. The plant forms an upright, robust clump,  90 to 120 cm tall and 50‑60 cm wide. The flowers are very full, composed of numerous broad, slightly incurved ligules, of an intense orange colour, edged with a slightly darker tone. Flowering begins in July (or even late June depending on the climate) and continues until the first frosts (October in temperate regions). The foliage is medium to dark green, the leaves are divided into slightly dentate lobes. The stems are sufficiently rigid to carry the large flower heads without breaking in the rain.

To encourage and prolong flowering, remove spent flowers regularly. Decorative dahlias are excellent cut flowers that last for several days in a vase. To create your bouquets, mix the colours and forms of dahlia flowers. You can plant several varieties in the vegetable garden or compose borders of varied dahlias. The dahlia 'Mrs Eileen' will pair wonderfully with dark dahlias like ‘Black Jack’ or ‘Black Hero’. In a bouquet, you can surround it with white anthemis or China Aster 'King Size White'. It can also be paired with a Salvia 'Victoria Blue'.