Dahlia 'Grand Finale' (S-c) (dahlia 'Grand Finale') — Bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial

Overview

Dahlia 'Grand Finale' (S-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 'Grand Finale' (S-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. It is native to Western South America, Mexico and Central America.

About

Dahlia 'Grand Finale' (S-c) is a clump-forming, tuberous bedding perennial that produces flowers from July to October. It suits full sun on neutral loam that remains moist but drains freely. Rated H4 (average) for the UK, it prefers a south-facing, sheltered site. Use it in borders or containers and for cutting.

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.

Written by Henry

In the garden

Dahlia 'Grand Finale' (S-c) is a tuberous, herbaceous perennial in the genus Dahlia (family Asteraceae), with origins in western South America, Mexico and Central America. It reliably flowers from July to October, providing late-summer into autumn colour where conditions suit. The plant forms a clump of stems and foliage from which the season's blooms arise. Place this dahlia in full sun on a loam soil with a neutral pH that stays moist but is well drained; avoid waterlogged positions. A south-facing aspect in a sheltered spot reduces stress from cold winds and aligns with its H4 (average) hardiness rating for the UK. Keep soil moisture even through the growing season to support sustained flowering. Dahlia 'Grand Finale' (S-c) works well in mixed borders and large containers, and stems are suitable for cutting for vase work. Position it where summer and autumn blooms will be visible from patios or paths so you can make the most of the July–October flowering window. Its tuberous habit and extended bloom period make it particularly useful where a run of late-season flowers is needed.