Family: Asteraceae

High Risk Traits:

• Thrives and can spread in regions with tropical climates
  
• Naturalized elsewhere (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
  
• Unconfirmed reports of weediness
  
• Other species may be weedy or invasive
  
• Potentially toxic to dogs if ingested
  
• May be toxic or cause skin irritation if handled
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Reproduces by seeds and vegetatively from tuberous roots
  
• Dahlia species capable of flowering 100-120 days from seed
  
• Seeds dispersed by gravity and through intentional cultivation

Low Risk Traits:

• No confirmed reports of negative impacts where naturalized
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
  
• Palatable to deer and possibly other browsing animals
  
• Grows best in high light environments (dense shade may inhibit spread)
  
• Plants may be self-incompatible, or produce limited seeds when selfing
  
• Lack of specialized adaptations for long distance dispersal may limit risk of unintentional spread