Overview

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) is a bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial bedding in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with green, occasionally dark-leaved foliage. Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders, containers and cut flowers.

About

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' is a cultivar of the Dahlia genus, known for its bushy, clump-forming habit and tuberous perennial nature. As a member of the Asteraceae family, it features finely dissected green foliage and prominent flowerheads typical of dahlias. This herbaceous perennial thrives in full sun with a south-facing, sheltered aspect and prefers moist but well-drained loam soil with a neutral pH. Hardy to UK zone H4, it is suitable for borders, containers, and cut flowers, with spring being its season of interest.

About the genus

Dahlias come from the high meadows of Mexico, and somewhere in that heritage is the explanation for how they behave here: tender to frost, hungry, generous beyond all reason. No other plant gives you quite so much for so little. One tuber, planted after the last frost, becomes a shrub's worth of flowers by August — and the more you cut, the more they come.The range is faintly ridiculous. Tight pompoms, spiky cactus types, singles the bees adore, dinner-plates the size of your face. Whatever your garden's mood, there is a dahlia that agrees with it, which is probably why every generation falls out of love with them and then, a decade later, falls straight back in.They're at their best when much of the garden is winding down — late summer into autumn, flowering hard until the first frost calls time. I think of them as the encore. And they always play it.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Dahlia

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Loam
Soil pH
Neutral
Soil moisture
Moist but well-drained
Aspect
South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H4

Plant details

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) size, habit and characteristics

Plant type
Bedding, Herbaceous Perennial
Habit
Bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial
Foliage
Green, occasionally dark-leaved
Suggested uses
Borders, containers, cut flowers

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C)

Propagation
Division, cuttings, seed
Pest resistance
Generally pest-resistant
Disease resistance
Generally disease-resistant

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to plant Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C)?

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) need?

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) grows best in loam soil. It prefers neutral soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.

Is Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) hardy in the UK?

Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C) has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.

How do I propagate Dahlia 'Alice Underdahl' (C)?

Division, cuttings, seed.

More in the Dahlia genus

Browse all Dahlia