Dahlia 'Great Hercules' — Bushy, Clump-forming

Overview

Dahlia 'Great Hercules' is a bushy, clump-forming perennial in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with green foliage. Dahlia 'Great Hercules' grows best in full sun, and tolerates well-drained and fertile soils and 6.0-7.5 pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include cut flowers, borders and garden beds.

About

Dahlia 'Great Hercules' is a large-flowered dahlia cultivar known for its impressive, fully double blooms with a rich, deep red color. It produces tall, sturdy stems and lush green foliage.

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

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Dahlia

Sunlight: full sun
Soil type: well-drained, fertile
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Soil moisture: moist, not waterlogged
Aspect: south-facing
Exposure: sheltered
UK hardiness: H4

Plant details

Dahlia 'Great Hercules' size, habit and characteristics

Plant type: perennial
Habit: Bushy, Clump-forming
Foliage: Green
Suggested uses: cut flowers, borders, garden beds

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Dahlia 'Great Hercules'

Cultivation: Plant tubers in spring after the last frost. Provide support for tall stems. Water regularly and feed with balanced fertilizer during growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Cut back stems after first frost.
Propagation: tuber division, cuttings
Pest resistance: Generally pest-free
Disease resistance: Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions

How do I grow Dahlia 'Great Hercules'?

Plant tubers in spring after the last frost. Provide support for tall stems. Water regularly and feed with balanced fertilizer during growing season.

Where is the best place to plant Dahlia 'Great Hercules'?

Dahlia 'Great Hercules' prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.

What soil does Dahlia 'Great Hercules' need?

Dahlia 'Great Hercules' grows best in well-drained and fertile soil. It prefers 6.0-7.5 soil. Aim for soil that stays moist to not waterlogged.

How do I prune Dahlia 'Great Hercules'?

Deadhead spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming. Cut back stems after first frost.

Is Dahlia 'Great Hercules' hardy in the UK?

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