This is a rare look at a beautiful "Tree Dahlia" species - Dahlia tenuicaulis.  Unlike the other Tree Dahlia species that bloom in winter, this one is ever-blooming, with flowers appearing almost all year long!  It grows 12 to 15 feet tall, with terrific, bamboo-like canes topped with 3 inch wide pinkish-purple blooms.  The plant comes from southern Mexico, where it is rare, and is considered at risk of becoming extinct.  It is rarely seen for sale.

 Dahlia tenuicaulis (pronounced "ten-yoo-ee-KAW-liss") is unusual in that it has perennial canes that tend to stay evergreen in frost-free areas (and indoors).  The canes are 1 to 3 inches thick and do not get as tall as the more common Tree Dahlia, Dahlia imperialis, although the plant has a bushier shape.  It grows to about 15 feet tall here in San Francisco, and about 8 feet wide if left unpruned.  The flowers are lightly fragrant.  They appear from spring through late winter, with the heaviest show in autumn.

Dahlia tenuicaulis comes from mountain cloud forests at about 2800 meter elevation, where the temperature is cool/mild all year.  There isn't a lot of information on this plant, but it's possible that it may not flower during hot summers with warm nights.  The tubers are probably hardy down to about 20° F (-7°C) if planted deep.  In colder areas, you may grow the plant in a pot and move it indoors for the winter, pruning it to the base if desired.  This Dahlia seems to prefer part sun, and will probably want some protection from strong afternoon sun.  Like most Dahlias, it likes well-draining soil, and adequate watering and feeding.  If the plant goes dormant in cold weather, keep the tubers relatively dry.

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