by Leigh
I have an obsession with Dahlias. They come in a plethora of colors and sizes. In fact, there are over 42 varieties! Some blooms are small and dainty while other "dinnerplate" varieties are as big as...you guessed it...a dinnerplate! I am anxiously (and impatiently) awaiting my dinnerplate Dahlias to bloom! There are color variations in each multi petaled bloom and they have brightly colored yellow centers. In my neck of the woods they are just annuals although I have heard that I can dig up the tubers to overwinter for next year's planting. I might just try that this year.
The Dahlia was named after botanist Anders Dahl in 1751. They are native to Mexico and were actually named the national flower of Mexico in 1963. They are in the Asteraceae family having composite flowers which means they have both central disc florets and surrounding ray florets. Dahlias come in almost every color except blue. In 1846 the Caledonia Horticultural Society of Edinburgh offered a prize of 2,000 pounds to the first person who successfully produced a blue Dahlia. This still has not been accomplished!
There are more than 57,000 registered cultivars of Dahlias. They are broken into various groups including: single flowered, anemone-flowered, collerette dahlias, decorative, ball, pompon, cactus, fimbriated, single orchid, double orchid, and peony flowered. These terms all relate to the shape of the flower.
If you are looking to add some pizazz to your garden then be sure to incorporate some of these amazing flowers!