Forget Poinsettias, it’s Dahlias in December! Unseasonably mild weather sees exotic flowers bloom days before Christmas

Exotic dahlias are blooming on England’s Jurassic Coast days before Christmas, thanks to above-seasonally mild weather conditions.

The absence of any significant frost so far this winter has allowed the Central American plant to thrive at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset.

Dahlia Tree (imperialis), which can grow up to 2.5 meters with its tuberous roots and pink cup-shaped flowers, thrives in bright, mild sun and warmth.

The plant can bloom from the end of October, but in this country at least, flowering often comes too late to beat frosts, so it is considered more of a foliage plant.

Nurseries recommend growing it in a greenhouse to increase the plant’s chances of blooming, as the plant should be grown in a frost-free environment.

However, in the first two weeks of December, temperatures reached 15°C, creating ideal conditions for the dahlia to thrive.

Yesterday the Met Office announced that 2025 is likely to be the hottest year since records began as climate change continues to push temperatures to new heights.

Dave Pearce, curator of Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, said: ‘Tree dahlia can grow up to 2.5 meters and usually blooms in December.

Gardens in Dorset, home to more than 6,000 species from around the world

‘This means that in England flowers are frozen and rarely bloom.

‘Ours are blooming due to the mild winter and should be blooming on Christmas Day.’

The plant’s long, thick, bamboo-like stems are covered with large, elderberry-like, fresh green leaves.

Tree Dhalias can easily reach heights of 12 ft (almost 4 m) over the summer, so they are ideal for filling in gaps at the back of the border or hiding garden compost areas or dilapidated hedges.

When they arrive, the single flowers are a gorgeous soft pink-purple with an orange center.

Dahlia Imperialis is native to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Coastal Rica, Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.

It is typically found at the foothills of subtropical mountains, at an altitude of about 5,000 ft above sea level.

In July, tropical Puya Alpestris, native to the Chilean Andes, bloomed for the first time in five years in gardens in Dorset, home to more than 6,000 species from around the world.