Here’s a Dahlia Variety Guide by Color—a great tool for planning a color-coordinated garden, creating showy bouquets, or simply exploring the stunning diversity of dahlias. I’ve grouped them by major color categories and included popular varieties with a range of sizes and forms.

🌸 Pinks & Blush Tones

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Café au Lait’	Dinnerplate	8–10″	Creamy blush-pink, wedding favorite
‘Otto’s Thrill’	Decorative	8″+	Classic bubblegum pink, excellent cut flower
‘Pink Magic’	Waterlily	6″	Pale pink with slightly darker center
‘Franz Kafka’	Pompon	2″	Vivid pink, tight form
‘Hillcrest Candy’	Cactus	6–8″	Pale pink petals with darker pink tips

🌹 Reds, Burgundy & Wine

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Bishop of Llandaff’	Single	3–4″	Vibrant scarlet with deep bronze foliage
‘Karma Choc’	Decorative	4–5″	Deep red-black blooms, velvety petals
‘Chat Noir’	Cactus	6–8″	Burgundy-red, striking spiky form
‘Arabian Night’	Decorative	4–5″	Velvet crimson, great for moody palettes
‘Rip City’	Decorative	4–6″	Rich wine-red with nearly black centers

🌼 Yellows & Golds

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Kelvin Floodlight’	Dinnerplate	10″+	Bright lemon yellow, very showy
‘Sunshine’	Collarette	3–4″	Golden yellow with orange center ring
‘Golden Scepter’	Pompon	2–3″	Tight yellow globe, cheerful and compact
‘Happy Single Party’	Single	3–4″	Yellow with a red center, pollinator favorite

🍊 Oranges, Apricots & Corals

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘David Howard’	Decorative	4–5″	Warm orange petals, dark foliage
‘Totally Tangerine’	Anemone	3–4″	Soft coral-orange with fuzzy center
‘Pooh – Swan Island’	Collarette	3–4″	Red-orange with yellow ring, very playful
‘Mick’s Peppermint’	Decorative	6–8″	Cream with peachy-orange streaks

🔥 Bi-Colors & Variegated

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Firepot’	Decorative	4–6″	Red with yellow tips, vibrant and flashy
‘Tahiti Sunrise’	Decorative	4–5″	Yellow base with pink to red overtones
‘Rebecca’s World’	Decorative	6–8″	Red petals with white streaks, some fully red or white
‘Harlequin Mix’	Various	2–4″	A mix of singles in many bold bi-color combos

💜 Purples & Lavenders

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Thomas A. Edison’	Decorative	8″+	Deep royal purple, one of the largest
‘Purple Gem’	Cactus	6–7″	Rich purple with long, thin petals
‘Blue Bayou’	Anemone	4–5″	Lavender outer petals with a purple fuzzy center
‘Lilac Time’	Decorative	6–8″	Silvery-lilac color, very elegant

⚪ Whites & Creams

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Boom Boom White’	Ball	3–4″	Perfectly round and snow-white
‘Bride to Be’	Decorative	6–8″	Soft white with a blush tint
‘White Onesta’	Decorative	6″	Classic white with excellent form
‘Snoho White’	Informal Decorative	8–10″	Ivory blooms with a gentle curve

🖤 Near-Blacks & Deep Tones

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Karma Choc’	Decorative	4–5″	Burgundy-black, velvety texture
‘Black Narcissus’	Cactus	6″	Deep maroon, almost black
‘Rip City’	Decorative	4–6″	Very dark wine-red, dramatic contrast

🌺 Multicolored & Unusual

Variety	Type	Size	Notes
‘Penhill Watermelon’	Dinnerplate	10–12″	Shades of pink, peach, and watermelon
‘Labyrinth’	Informal Decorative	8–10″	Swirls of peach, pink, and yellow
‘Break Out’	Dinnerplate	10″+	Cream base with pinky-peach blush
‘Mick’s Peppermint’	Decorative	6–8″	Cream with raspberry-red streaks

🌿 Tips for Designing with Color:

For a calming palette: Stick to pastels like Café au Lait, Lilac Time, and Bride to Be.
For drama and contrast: Pair deep reds or purples with crisp whites or bright yellows.
For a fiery garden: Use hot oranges, reds, and golds with contrasting dark foliage.
For cut flower appeal: Mix forms (pompon, cactus, decorative) in complementary colors for dynamic bouquets.