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RV: Dahlia imperialis



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> De: Jose Almandoz. <almand@arrakis.es>
> A: dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk
> Asunto: RE: Dahlia imperialis
> Fecha: jueves 21 de agosto de 1997 0:12
> 
> Hi Dave,
> 
> From what I remember when I worked in the Royal Botanic Garden in Madrid,
> with its continental climate, Dahlia imperialis was grown in some beds,
> making huge plants that flowered well into late Autumn. I think the roots
> were left in the ground. No fruits were produced, as frosts always killed
> the flowers before this could happen. But the plants looked superb, very
> strong, with great dark foliage. Actually the thing I liked least from
this
> plant were the relatively small single flowers, quite disappointing for
the
> allure of the plant...
> I guess this plant needs a lot of heat in summer. maybe this year (I've
> heard you're 'enjoying' unusually high temperatures this year) your plant
> could even flower... but wait till very late... although for next year,
> BETTER plant it directly in the ground, in deep, rich soil...
> 
> Good luck! :-)
> 
> Jose
> almand@arrakis.es
> Northern Spain, zone 9, humid oceanic climate
> 
> ----------
> De: David Poole <dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk>
> A: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
> Asunto: Dahlia imperialis
> Fecha: miércoles 20 de agosto de 1997 18:28
> 
> I was given a rooted cutting of this species in early June this year
> and having potted it on into a 15" container, it has leapt up to over
> 7 feet high, with 3, 'wrist thick' main stems.  The 2 foot+ long,
> aralia-like, pinnate leaves are very handsome and whilst I do not
> expect to see its pale, white stained mauve flowers this year, I'm
> hopeful that it will perform during next summer.  Frost is a
> considerable rarity in my garden and winter night lows seem to hover
> around 40/45F.  The only drawback may be that our winters are
> generally very wet, with many totally sunless, rainy days.  This can
> cause problems with species that are susceptible to fungal rots and
> various moulds.  I'm not sure whether to dry it off for the winter and
> store the tuber until early next spring, or to try and retain its top
> growth.
> 
> Does anyone have any direct experience of growing this species?  I've
> seen very poor, weedy, 10 foot high specimens growing and flowering in
> Tenerife, but have yet to see it discussed to any extent.  I know that
> it is a sub-tropical, native of Mexico and capably of reaching well
> over 15 feet high, but apart from technical details about this
> species, I can find little else about it.
> 
> I would like to know how cold tolerant this plant is (without any
> detriment to flowering capacity) and whether it can make sufficient
> growth from the roots in one season for it to produce flowers.  Also
> (again related to flowering) how long a growing season does D.
> imperialis need?   Everyone that I know over here, claims that it will
> not flower out of doors in the UK, but having broken nearly every rule
> in the book over the past few years, I'm taking those assertions with
> an immense pinch of salt.  
> 
> I've got money riding on whether I can flower it outside by October 31
> 1998, so any help with this would be greatly appreciated <G>.
> 
> David Poole
> ----------
>
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