From the age of six, Samantha wanted to grow dahlias like Tsuki-nori (pictured above) with her grandad.
To date these sectional divisions have not been fully supported phylogenetically,
Horticulturally the sections retain some usage, section Pseudodendron being referred to as ‘Tree Dahlias’, Epiphytum as the ‘Vine Dahlia’. The remaining two herbaceous sections being distinguished by their pinnules, opposing (Dahlia) or alternating (Entemophyllon).
Dahlia is found predominantly in Mexico, but some species are found ranging as far south as northern South America.
Horticulturally the garden dahlia is usually treated as the cultigen D. variabilis hort., which while being responsible for thousands of cultivars has an obscure taxonomic status.: 41–42
There are now more than 57,000 registered cultivars,
which are officially registered through the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).