Dahlia imperialis 'California Angel'

Double White Tree Dahlia

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Item #: 5935

Zones: 7b to 9b

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 96" tall

Culture: Sun to Part Sun

Origin: Central America

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


(aka: Dahlia imperialis Double White) From the late California plantsman, Wayne Roderick, comes this unusual form of tree dahlia that we named in 2005. Just like the more commonly grown forms, this selection of the giant tree dahlia makes a clump of bamboo-like stems to 8' tall, topped with typical dahlia foliage on the top half. In mid-November, the clumps are topped with large double white flowers...just about the time of our first frost. Although we love the plant for its form in the garden, those of you with later first frost dates will also get to enjoy the flowers...and so will your hummingbirds.

Maintenance:

Cut this plant to the ground after frost has killed it. This is about all the maintenance that it requires. Despite its great height it most often manages to stand up without assistance.

Growing Conditions:

Full sun and good drainage. It does not need sharp drainage, just avoid soggy sites. Killing frosts in the fall are now quite a bit later than they were 20 or 30 years ago and Dahlia imperialis does now some years manage to bloom out fully.

Garden Value:

Yes indeed Dahlia imperialis adds some WOW factor to your garden with its amazing height and floral display. The floral display is stunning when it occurs. Great horizontal side branches, way over head, bear saucer sized pendant flowers. That the flowers are pendant means that they are looking down at the earthbound viewer which is much better than looking up at the underside of the flower heads. Long before a tree dahlia blooms the plant itself has a big bold architectural presence in the garden with its sturdy trunks and layers of large compound leaves.

Natural Impact:

Tree dahlias bloom so late in the year it might not support many pollinators, though should one be passing through the garden they would make use of the flowers when so few other plants are in bloom.