Perennial herb to 1 m tall with a short stout base. Stems hairy or glabrous. Basal leaves oblanceolate to obovate, to 10 cm long, to 3 cm wide, toothed. Stem leaves decreasing in size up the stem, margins toothed to entire. Capitula several to many in racemes forming panicles, to 10 mm across; summer to autumn. Ray florets 6-12, to 9 mm long, yellow. Disk florets yellow.

Europe, Asia

Several subspecies and a variety are recognised, including var. minutissima Mak., a small version possibly known in the trade as 'Nana'.

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.