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