I've never grown Brian R, but I've grown a lot of dahlias. I've not found that given heights can be depended on.

I have grown one bloom for over 10 years that Swan Island calls a "low growing" (2.5 feet) but I don't know that I've had a healthy plant of this variety of anything less than 4 feet.

One year, I planted two of a particular variety. One was a normal 5 foot, the other was a little over 8 foot and I needed to stand on a bucket to tend my blooms.

All this to say, it's a tough question, and when people give you heights, your plant may not experience the same height. I put out a stake that prepares for a dahlia to be at least 5 foot.

Thanks Phyllis. I think you are right. Many of my dahlias are over 5 feet and Pooh was 8'!!

I think my soil is too rich and sometimes they don't get full sun.

Thanks for reminding me whatever height a grower says is what happens in his garden, not mine.

Ginny

The height of dahlias is affected by the latitude of the grower. The farther North you live, the taller the dahlias. At our latitude of 45 degrees, dahlias grow somewhat tall. The tallest in my garden in absolute full sun(shade makes a huge difference), the maximum height is about 8 feet for Kenora Clyde. It has reached 18 feet when grown in partial shade(not in my garden). If you use shadecloth, dahlias that grow normally 6 feet or so will reach 9 feet and sometimes even taller.

Ted, that was a relevation, but it makes a lot of sense. I wondered why that one plant grew so much taller than the other, but it was next to some overgrown Christmas trees and I guess it had to work a little harder to get to the sun. Thanks for the insight! I guess I just assumed that a plant wouldn't do as well if planted in less sun. Now I know it can work differently.