Dahlia Blooms Defy Christmas Frost on Jurassic Coast

Exotic dahlias are currently blooming before Christmas along Britain's Jurassic Coast, thanks to an unseasonably mild winter. The absence of significant frost has allowed the central American Dahlia Imperialis to flourish at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset, a rare occurrence for the plant in the UK.

This particular variety, which can grow up to 8ft tall, typically struggles to bloom before frosts arrive. However, temperatures reaching 59F (15C) in the first two weeks of December have provided the ideal conditions for these pink, cup-shaped flowers to develop and are expected to be in bloom on Christmas Day.

The gardens, home to over 6,000 species from around the world, recently saw another unusual bloom from the tropical Puya Alpestris. This event follows the Puya Alpestris flowering for the first time in five years during July.