identify perennial yellow flower

Question: This yellow flower grows to at least 4-5 foot. It was here when we bought our house over 25 years ago. We've encouraged it and it was producing many flowers in July-August. When one of the agencies sprayed herbicide at base of telephone poles they also sprayed plants on our property, killing all but one flower. I'd like to buy more to replace them but can't find out what it is. Any help is greatly appreciated. The flower shown is not very tall, unlike what was growing.

responder: CCE Dutchess County Master Gardener  Replied July 30, 2024, 6:38 PM EDT
response: Hi! I want to confer w/ another master gardener But it looks like a dahlia…. A rogue specimen!!! Is it in a protected spot? This area is usually too cold for them to make it through the winter. I’ll get back to you. I suggest weeding out some of the competing plants.

responder: CCE Dutchess County Master Gardener  Replied July 31, 2024, 9:27 AM EDT
response: Hi again, My cohorts agree it’s a dahlia. It was a warm winter and sometimes a tuber can survive.Count yourself lucky! It’s beautiful. Mulch in the fall and leave a stake to remember where it is and maybe it will return again next year! Good luck!

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2024, 10:16 AM EDT
response: Thank you for your assistance. I'm surprised because, if this is the same plant that's been here for years, it has survived for over 25 years in our winters. Now I'm wondering if this is the same flower that has bloomed every year or my husband's picture is of a different flower and the original was killed. The flower was always at least 4 foot tall, sometimes more. It's not close to our house so it has always been noticeable from a distance. We definitely will stake the area and hope it comes back next year. It was irresponsible of the workers to spray our yard with defolient. The ironic part is that the weeds are growing just fine at the base of the pole they sprayed. Oh, well. I feel fortunate to have a source that can identify plants. Wish we'd taken photos when the original plant existed.  Thank you again. Susan Schaefer   On Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 09:27:43 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: CCE Dutchess County Master Gardener  Replied July 31, 2024, 10:30 AM EDT
response: I’ve seen a lot of spraying on the sides of roads in Dutchess county and personally I worry that these chemicals are leaching into our water system. Maybe you can reach out to your town highway department or utility and find out exactly what herbicides they are using and offer to weed it yourself. Wear GLOVES. Good luck,

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2024, 10:43 AM EDT
response: I've grown Dahlias but have had to dig them up to save for next year. Never had one that grew tall but I've read that they do. It was luck that it was planted in a protected area where it came back year after year.  We bought an abandoned property that was in terrible condition. I ignored my rule of "don't do anything until you've lived there a year to see what already was there". I've since learned that the woman who lived here for many years was an avid gardener and there were still many of her plants. Unfortunately I destroyed what was a double pink poppy that never came back. Front lawn was a blanket of orange poppies.  I know that I have varieties of heirloom plants because women who know more have pointed them out to me. We had a beautiful perennnial garden along the side of the house (built in 1941). I've been severly disabled with a spinal cord injury for years and can't maintain the plants. I had a brown iris. But it's gone now, was dug up when we repaired our septic system. There's a heirloom yellow iris that is a true yellow.  Sorry for another letter from me. I'm happy to have our mystery plant identified. Wish I could still garden. Thank you again! Susan    On Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 09:27:43 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2024, 10:49 AM EDT
response: Thank you for an excellent suggestion. My husband would gladly weed rather than having whomever spray chemicals on our property. Susan   On Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 10:30:07 AM EDT, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 13, 2024, 12:24 PM EDT
response: Am pretty certain this is not a dahlia. It has been here for over 30 years and until the utility sprayed it, came back bigger and better every year. Thank you for trying though. I haven't found out what it is yet.  On Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 09:27:43 AM EDT, Ask Extension wrote:

responder: CCE Dutchess County Master Gardener  Replied August 25, 2024, 6:18 PM EDT
response: Hi again! It’s Dahlia season and maybe you could compare the leaves to commercial cuttings. Dahlia grow from tubers but I wouldn’t suggest digging up a perfectly happy plant that may rebound next year. Best of luck,