Annual herb to 75 cm tall. Stems erect, branched below. Leaves linear to oblong, to 6 cm long, to 0.8 cm wide, white-hairy above and below, sessile. Capitula to 5 cm across, long-stalked; summer to autumn. Inner involucral bracts spreading, pink, rarely white. Florets numerous, purple. Achenes 4-5 mm long. Pappus of 5 scales.

Europe, SW Asia

Several named seed mixes and cultivars are available in selected colours.

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.