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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asteraceae (Sunflowers) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Flower Color: Lavender |
| Bloomtime: Fall |
| Height: 8-12 feet |
| Width: 4-5 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Dahlia imperialis (Tree Dahlia) - This fast growing multi-stemmed tree-like shrub/perennial has 3 to 4 inch diameter cane-like four angled stems that grow to 8 to 12 feet or more tall with swollen nodes where the large bipinnate dark green leaves emerge. These leaves drop off with age to expose the tall erect stems that are topped in the fall and early winter with clusters of large 4 to 5 inch wide light lavender yellow centered dahlia flowers that nod downwards to be viewed from below. Plant in sun or shade and water regularly. It is hardy to about 20-25 degrees F but as it blooms in the late fall flowers they can be damaged by frosts in cold locations. Plant in a location that is protected from wind and cut plants down to near the ground (or a foot or two above it) in late winter. This plant is easy to propagate and gardeners often share cut, cane like, stems with friends in winter months. Dahlia imperialis is native to southern Mexico, Central America south into Colombia where it is found in uplands and mountains from 4,900 to 5,600 feet in elevation. The name of the genus honors the Swedish botanist Ander Dahl, a student of Linnaeus and the specific epithet is Latin for imperial, a reference to the size of the plant and the flowers.
The information about Dahlia imperialis that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
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