Scientific name: Dahlia spp. & cvs.
Family: ASTERACEAE
Common names: “Dahlia”
Plant Type: Herbaceous tuberous perennial
Conditions:
Zone: 8
Light: Full sun
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Fertile humus rich soil
Moisture: Moist-average well drained
Aesthetic:
Plant Size: 3-4′ H & W
Leaf and Stem shape: Pinnately divided leaves
Flower: Intense sometimes double flowerheads with flat or slightly incurved florets in a wide variety of shapes and colours, everything except blue
Maintenance: High, most require a protective mulch and staking (stake when planting as not to spear the tubers), for best results you have to dig up the tubers in the fall just after the frost kills the foliage, and overwinter them in a dry location, heavy feeders, benefits from regular fertilization
Landscape use: Cut flowers, flower borders, patio & container plants, bedding plant
Propagate: By cuttings and division, ensure tuber has a viable bud
Pests & Disease:Beetles, borers, red spiders, thrips, earwigs, cutworms, slugs, leaf miner, white fly
*Sometimes deer resistant
Comments: Very beautiful showy flowers but unfortunately most of the cultivars are scentless
Cultivars: There are thousands of different kinds.
