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Dahlia imperalis

I think you will be happily suprised when your Dahlia imperalis starts 
to bloom.  I've had this spectacular experience.  For eight years I 
lived next to a wonderful Inn on the Mendocino coast and I would go 
every year to pay homage to this incredible specimen when it began to 
bloom.  The first year I discovered it in the inn's garden I waited 
until I saw the canes cut and then checked out the compost heap which 
wasn't until February; I found the canes rooted and growing.  I was 
given a few and off I went to simulate the best growing conditions which 
I observed at the Inn.  Planted in three different locations. The one in 
full sun with protection in a corner of a building bloomed its heart 
out.  One was up against the front of the Inn, which is perched on a 
western facing bluff.  Windy? yes, very. However up against the building 
and as long it didn't grow above the building had incredible foliage, 
but didn't bloom that well.  Another was not at all protected in the 
cutting flower garden.  The largest and possibly original clump was 
quite tattered where exposed to wind, but some of this same clump, 
stretched itself into the shade where the lavender flowers literally 
glowed.
There was also a year when a very rare occurence of wet snow laid a 
thermal blanket over the flowers so when the light shone through the 
crystal glowing flowers, applause was an involuntary reaction.
>Good Luck 
Lily 
> Thanks to the very many of you who replied personally, to my query
> about Dahlia imperialis.  From what I have learnt, it would seem that
> I have a very good chance of getting it through the coming winter in
> its arborescent form as opposed to having it die down to the rather
> inadequate  tubers.  This bodes well for me winning my bet!
> 
> I have no illusions as to its merit as a flowering plant, having seen
> it in flower on a couple of occasions, it strikes me as being one of
> those plants that never quite lives up to its promise.  Nevertheless,
> the form that I have (or could it be the growing conditions?) has
> fairly short internodes creating a highly effective foliage plant.
> Any flowers will be a bonus and a point proven rather than an end to
> themselves.
> 
> David Poole
 was the crystal sparkleing lavender bells.  Unbelievably gorgeous
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