Tree Dahlia

They don't look much, but in situ, these are one of my favourites.

They grow, each year from nothing to 3 - 4 metres high. We have a great clump of them, but each year, just when they are looking lush, the winds come and knock down at last half of them. Every year I vow that the next year, when they are a metre tall I will chop them down so they don't grow so high - only 2 -3 metres instead and then hopefully won't get so knocked around by the winds.

They are an extraordinary cut flower - we have a branch that Mr C cut down to two metres tall and just starting to flower. (Actually these are they - the ones in the garden are too tall to photograph well). The buds continue to open - and there are lots of them - and will go for at least a couple of weeks. Each flower large and delicate -- oooh - you can't half tell I'm partial!