A New Dahlia

This is a new Dahlia and I’m really quite excited about it. We have grown it from seed and it appears to be a totally new variety- a tree dahlia cross. It’s much taller than most hybrids, growing on a single stem to more than five feet. The leaves are unusually large, some measuring ten inches in length. ​

These are qualities which I think it has taken from a tree dahlia; but it has come to maturity much earlier than a tree dahlia would, and has a striking red flower whereas the flowers on tree dahlias tend to be pale blue or mauve and rather insignificant. This plant is vigorous, with 13 flower heads. It is also scented, so it may be crossed with red scented variety which Jack Gott developed two or three years ago when he worked here, and which has the preliminary name of Margaret Denby. I haven’t yet thought of a name for this new one, but it’s certainly one to watch.