Do you have Picts? I haven't seen the colors swap places before...

Often colors shift depending on amount/intensity of sun. Also, often variegated (speckled) varieties sport to solid the next year.

The flowers were mostly one solid color (orange/yellow) last year. Now the flower is bicolored!

...even more of a difference than the two pics you posted!

What variety is it?

I came across another image showing how different one dahlia variety can be... AC White Rabbit should be variegated, but often sports to different solid colors. The form is great, and holds up well in bouquets, so I keep the various colors when I can.

Tomatozesty, I know this isn't what happened to yours, but I thought to share these picts as it relates to the thread topic. (while planting out all these green things, its good to remember WHY I bother... picts RULE!)

I'm not sure which variety! I bought it from HD and it didn't have a tag.

So interesting looking at it today! Looks like a totally different plant! The flowers are much smaller and totally different in color.

As a collector, that would drive me insane! Even pretty ones get winnowed out the next year without the correct name. But casual growers don't mind, and it is just a sign that you are not hopelessly obsessed yet. ;-)

I remember the first year I threw a $2 discount bag of a dozen mixed dahlias in the ground, and was amazed at the big, floppy blooms growing along the ground. I looked online to see if dahlias came in 'red,' and saw to my amazement all the different color variations and forms that were possible. The next year I hooked up with a couple dahlia growers, ended up growing sixty, all named, all gloriously different, and all carefully staked. The rest of my landscape has gone to seed, but my dahlia beds are immaculate, and still growing! :-D

I totally understand the obsession! The flowers were so amazing on the plant that I saw at the store I had to have it (regardless of the tag! I didn't even know they were Dahlias!).

If I had the money I would've ordered at least 3 new tubers this year. Many more if I didn't use the space in the garden for veggies. They are a work of art.