Botanical Name:
Dahlia imperialis
Common Name:
Tree dahlia
Family:
Asteraceae
Description:
A fast growing herbaceous perennial with very tall, straight and thin stems and lavender pendulous flowers resembling ballerinas tutus from late autumn.
Huge leaves, stems and flowers. Although they die away annually the best time to prune is after flowering when the spent stems are cut back close to ground level. Can also be pruned in early summer if a smaller plant is wanted, cut the new growth by one third to a half.
Easy to grow, requiring a sunny spot and shelter from wind and heavy frost, do not like waterlogged soils. May require staking.
H: 3-5m
Uses:
Dramatic autumn colour.
Propagation:
Stem cutting with at least two nodes, placed in soil either horizontally or vertically.
