Perennial herb to 1 m tall, glabrous. Stems erect, usually simple. Basal leaves oblanceolate, to 30 cm long, to 5 cm wide, toothed, petiolate. Stem leaves lanceolate, decreasing in size up the stem, sessile. Capitula solitary, to 10 cm or more across; summer. Ray florets white. Disk florets yellow. Pappus an ear-like lobe, present on outer achenes. [L. maximum (Raymond) DC.× L. lacustre (Brot.) Samp., Chrysanthemum superbum J.W. Ingram]

Garden origin

Cultivars may be double as in 'Cobham Gold' and 'Starburst', semi-double as in 'Esther Read', fringed and dwarf as in 'Little Silver Princess' or anemone-centred. Named seed mixes are also available.

Source: Lawson, L.; Spencer, R. (2002). Dahlia. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.