Dahlia 'Fire Mountain' (D)

RHS Plant Profile
dahlia 'Fire Mountain'

Synonyms

Dahlia 'Mountain of Fire'

Herbaceous Perennial Bedding

A bushy, tuberous perennial to around 1m high, with serrated, dark bronze leaves. Vivid red, miniature decorative flowers to 8cm across, finely edged with yellow-orange on the centre petals, are produced from late summer to early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Dahlia are tuberous rooted perennials with pinnately divided leaves and showy flowerheads, double in many cultivars, in summer and autumn
Name Status
Accepted
Horticultural Group
Decorative dahlias have fully double flowerheads with flat or slightly incurved florets

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, in full sun. Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushy plants. Plants will need support, see staking perennials. Water if needed in dry periods. Lift and store tubers in autumn, particularly in heavy soils, or mulch well to protect from frosts. See dahlia cultivation, and our video How to plant dahlia tubers and care tips, for more advice

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings, taken in spring from shoots from stored tubers, or by division, ensuring each tuber has at least one viable bud

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Bedding
  • Cut flowers
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering. Cut back to near ground level in the autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, capsid bugs, caterpillars, leaf miners, glasshouse red spider mite and slugs. Earwigs sometimes damage blooms

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions, and to grey moulds and other fungal rots in wet weather. Virus diseases may cause stunting, leaf markings and distortion. Fungal rots can also damage stored tubers