This summer ( now) I have a single plant of Akita that much to my demise is barely 20 cm (8 in.) high It has a single bud. It is a purchased tuber from a reputable importer that regularly purchases his stock from the Netherlands. Is there such a thing as stunting in Dahlias as occurs in other ornamentals. Of the new stock I purchased it is the only one that shows this trait. Otherwise the plant is healthy with dark green leaves. It simply doesn't grow and seems reluctant to flower. Next to this there are many others flowering profusely but in general this summer all my dahlias are shorter. Perhaps I should wait longer since it's still the beginning of the season. I would greatly appreciate comments and suggestions. Thank you to all. arturo

My first guess is that it's early in your summer so waiting another month will reveal if it's the tuber at fault or the old stand-by of "genetics", which do change. I can't speak of stunting but it wouldn't shock me if it were possible.

I've had Akita many times and it's never been a huge producer of blooms like some others have been. The same is true with the popular, Vancouver, yet I wouldn't want to be without either one.

Thank you, Arlene I unfotunately bought (from a different definetely not realiable source) two Vancouvers that bloomed into perfect Duets right next to the lazy Akita. Misnaming tubers seem to be a worldwide disease that mindboggles us when we try to stick to nominated forms. Noids seem to get into gardens even after rigorous control. And when one thinks that at least I did this right this time...then it doesn't want to grow. Hopefully one day I'll manage to have in reasonable shape both.

We have a host of unreliable sources here in the US. It's such a disappointment when a tuber is misnamed/mislabeled. Duet must be good at making tubers since it's so often a substitue (minus a warning) for whatever we ordered. We've probably all had tubers that just wouldn't sprout.

It does make it a pleasure when we get what we ordered and the plant is as glorious in bloom as the photo that lured us into ordering it.

Arturo, as with Arlene, I have had some noids and no matter how I looked at my orders and tried to eliminate the correct ones to identify what wasn't sent correctly, I seldom can figure it out. I have one I simply call Red Noid in my database. Truly, no idea what it is but it blooms prolifically, the plants are tall and healthy and it produces many viable tubers. So, c'est la guerre. Hmmm, maybe not the best term for it. But still dahlias are sooo worth the trouble and expense.

Arturo - stunted growing is a sign of virus, especially if the leaves are at all twisty or showing streaks of yellow. If it is blooming at 8" thats just weird. I would contact the seller and let them know.

Those twisted leaves that do not appear normal are never good. Neither are the streaked ones and the plants never recovered so now I just rip them out and I do the same when mildew appears.