Congratulations. I wish I could grow that here.

Sharon

Hey Calla Lady, welcome! I am due to get one of those dahlia trees in a swap. How do you support the monsters when they get so tall? I was thinking of aiming it against the garage with gutters about 10 ft high, or a 25 ft utility pole that we love to landscape.
Do you have any tips on soil/support and such?

Thank you both for the kind comments!

Poochella I use a tree stake to give a bit of support, though I have found that these do not seem to topple over as easily as you would expect - even our afternoon wind that blows off the ocean does not seem to knock it over. As far as soil goes, we are on sandy loam - very fast draining! I have never given this guy much extra attention or special care so I don't have much in the way of tips to offer, sorry.

Alicia :~)

That helps alot, thank you. Two more questions, if I may. How tall is the tree stake? And
How wide do these guys get at the base or at the widest part? (Trying to plan for space you know.)

Sorry about the time lapse there, I am scurrying around like a mad woman trying to get everything moved back into the greenhouses. Our first frost is late this year - Thank Goodness! Figured I best not tempt fate much longer.

Gosh, Poochella I am guessing that the tree stake is usually around 8' or so. I have a stand of Bamboo growing close by this plant that usually provides my stake so it is always a bit different depending on what I nab. This Dahlia has a pretty good hold into the ground - there have been some years that I have not even staked it. Width at the base? I am guesstimating 2 1/2' - 3'. The foliage is very light and airy to seems to find it's place with other plants around it (probably helps with support).

Hope this helps, Alicia :~)

I've scurried like a mad woman too- what a small world LOL!

Your info helps indeed. I have since found a ten foot lead pipe that might serve as a strong stake, or a weapon to defend my turf from invaders! So I've got to do some plotting on where to locate this newcomer. Am really looking forward to seeing if I can grow it up here. I do hear that there is a dahlia imperialis about ten miles from here in a public garden so maybe I can get a glimpse of that yet this season.
Many thanks,
Annie

Post pictures. Post pictures.

Imagine, a 3 inch base. Wow ! ! !

Poochella, you'll have to bring it in every winter. You will develop biceps that are amazing. Get a job as a bouncer in the winter. LOL

How envious I am !

Why Jroot, I already HAVE biceps that are amazing. They're called 'turning the compost pile regularly' and 'cleaning the barn with one short pitch fork.' I can't wait to let them wither a bit over winter- they are tired!

A bouncer? I'm way too nice. If someone was out of hand I'd politely say "Be nice!" Of course, I could take that ten foot lead pipe to work to look more authoritative....

I have seen photos of the dahlia imperialis' incredible growth. I've often marveled at the unbelievable growth of your average 4 ft dahlia, but this thing is a monster with a monster growth rate. With any luck I will have something to post next year.

Jroot, my Dahlia freezes down to the ground every winter so it has brand new growth every spring. The stalk on my plant is maybe 1 1/2" wide.

I was in a courtyard garden in Sonoma yesterday and spotted a the biggest Dahlia imperialis I have ever see. Their was multiple woody stalks on this one which were about 4" wide. It was at least 10' - 11' tall, maybe taller. Sonoma does not get the regular hard frost that we do here, so it looks like this one does not get knocked back by the frost. It appears though that it was planted in a spot that has a constant flow of foot traffic right next to it and judging by all of the hacked off old stalks pointing towards the sidewalk, it probably has had tendency to lean over the sidewalk. My guess is that it does not get a chance to bloom. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me, but I need to go out there again next week so I am going to make a point of trying to visit this garden again and get some pics. If I am successful I will post those.