Dahlia 'Wildman' (S-c) — Bushy, clump-forming, tuberous perennial

Overview

Dahlia 'Wildman' (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 'Wildman' (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 'Wildman' (S-c) is a tuberous, clump-forming bedding perennial raised for summer and autumn blooms and for cutting. It forms a well-branched mound of green foliage that is occasionally darker on some plants. Flowers appear from July to October. Plant in full sun on neutral loam, keeping soil moist but well drained in a south-facing, sheltered spot.

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 'Wildman' (S-c) belongs to the Asteraceae and originates from western South America, Mexico and Central America. As a tuberous herbaceous perennial it regenerates from swollen roots each season and is grown for bedding and as a source of cut flowers. The species' background explains its preference for sunny, protected positions and rich, moisture-retentive soils. Give this dahlia a south-facing, sheltered position in full sun on neutral loam; conditions that keep the soil moist but well drained suit it best. The plant is rated H4 (average) for UK hardiness, so position and site choice matter — a sheltered, sunny spot on good loam will make the most of the season. Avoid waterlogged ground and provide consistent moisture through the flowering months. Dahlia 'Wildman' (S-c) is suitable for mixed borders, containers and for cutting into arrangements. Its clump-forming habit means it fills a planting quickly, while the tuberous roots support reliable seasonal flowering. Expect a steady supply of stems for cutting from July to October.