Hi All: Dahlia imperalis grows to a height of some 25 feet here in Sausalito, California, flowering in November. The flowers are mostly pendant, quite long lasting. Stems reach 3-4 inches in diameter. Cheers, John E. Bryan Robert Hamilton wrote: > > Hi Uli , > > Thanks for the introduction. > > I am very fond of "Tree Dahlias" which to me means the single > pink form of Dahlia imperialis which is grown commonly in gardens > where I live. It grows to about 3 metres and flowers in early > winter before heavy frost and tends to be quite an open leggy > plant. I also grow a semi double white form which is not so tall > - about 2 metres and a much more dense clump - to my eye a much > better garden plant . Unfortunately it flowers several weeks > later than the single pink and therefore is not often enjoyed. > This year our winter was quite mild until June 21 (our > shortest day) and I had a nice display of flowers almost ready > to photograph. We then had -2C and -1C two nights in a row . > Next weekend I cut them all down (saving plenty of cuttings.) > > I grow them in full sun and wind in our new garden hoping that in > years to come as trees and shrubs grow they will get more > protection from frost. > > I also grow Dahlia coccinea var palmeri thanks to Uli and find it > flowers almost continuously from summer to frost. For me thus > far it has only reached 1 metre tall and is also a wonderful > garden plant. > > I have raised 4 seedlings of Dahlia merkii this year so should > be able to share my experiences with this next summer. > > Cheers, > > Rob in Tasmania > Zone 9 > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php