The Dahlias Keep On Blooming
With such mild fall temperatures here in Bedford, New York, my dahlias continue to bloom with gorgeous colors and forms.
Dahlia is a genus of tuberous plants that are members of the Asteraceae family and are related to the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum, and zinnia. They grow from small tubers planted in the spring. And from July through October, these flowers give off a stunning show with blooms ranging from small to giant dinner-plate size. Many of my dahlias are from Swan Island Dahlias in Oregon, from Floret in the State of Washington, and from The Flower Hat, a flower farm based in Bozeman, Montana.
Enjoy these photos.
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- This week is expected to be rainy here in the Northeast, but last week, my dahlia bed was bursting with fresh blooms. There are about 42 species of dahlia, with hybrids commonly grown as garden plants. The genus Dahlia is native to the high plains of Mexico. Some species can be found in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Costa Rica as well as parts of South America where it was introduced.
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- I have decorated my home with so many different dahlias this year, but there are so many still to enjoy.
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- Dahlias are among my favorite flowers. They begin to bloom with great profusion just as other plants pass their prime, and they last right up until the first frost.
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- Dahlias were first recorded by Westerners in 1615, and were then called by their original Mexican name, acoctli. The first garden dahlias reached the United States in the early 1830s. Today, dahlias are grown all over the world. This is a cactus type dahlia which features a double flower and long pointed ray petals that revolute or roll back along half their length giving it a spiky appearance.
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- Dahlias vary in height, leaf color, form, and shape. This is because dahlias are octoploids, meaning they have eight sets of homologous chromosomes, whereas most plants have only two. Flowers come one head per stem. The blooms can be as small as two-inches in diameter or up to one foot across.
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- The Dahlia is named after the Swedish 18th century botanist Anders Dahl, who originally declared the flower a vegetable, as the tubers are edible.
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- Dahlias come in white, shades of pink, red, yellow, orange, shades of purple, and various combinations of these colors – every color but true blue. In the 19th century, a London newspaper offered a pound, or a little more than a dollar, to the first breeder to create a blue dahlia—the reward was never claimed, but there have been many attempts that are near-blue.
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- Here is one in dark burgundy. Like many flower varieties, there is also no pure black variety—only dark reds and dark purples.
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- There are some 57,000 varieties of dahlia, with many new ones created each year. This is another cactus dahlia.
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- Dahlias are borne from tubers and are popularly grown for their long-lasting cut flowers.
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- The majority of dahlia species do not produce scented flowers or cultivars, but they are brightly colored to attract pollinating insects.
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- Dahlias thrive in rich, well-drained soil with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0 and slightly acidic.
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- When planting dahlias, choose the location carefully – dahlias grow more blooms where they can have six to eight hours of direct sunlight. This dahlia garden is behind my vegetable greenhouse where it gets lots of sun and protection from strong winds.
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- This is a single with just one row of petals surrounding the center yellow disc. Experiment with varieties – dahlias look great arranged in different colors.
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- To prevent wilting, cut only in the early morning or late afternoon. And only cut them after they open to mature size – dahlias will not open after cutting.
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- And always strip off all leaves that would be below the water line in the vase. This is true for all flower arrangements, not just dahlias. When leaves stay underwater, they decay and release bacteria that shorten the vase life of the flowers. And change the water daily so they look fresh and last longer.
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- Dahlias are common wedding flowers, not only for their looks but also for their symbolic meaning. During the Victorian era, dahlias were a symbol of commitment and everlasting union. They are also used to represent inner strength, creativity, and elegance.
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- Another fact – before insulin, the tubers of dahlias were used to balance blood sugar due to their high fructose content. The petals were used to treat dry skin, infections, rashes, and insect bites.
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- This dahlia is light peach with a dark yellow center.
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- This dark magenta bloom is one of the bigger dahlias – these blooms can reach nearly 12-inches in diameter.
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- By early November in this area, all the dahlia flowers are gone. Always wait until the foliage has turned brown before digging them up. This is important so that the plant can gather energy for the following year. It will store starches in the tuber which will fuel initial sprouting in summer. The best time is a couple weeks after the first frost when they’re well into dormancy yet haven’t been harmed by the cold.
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- There are so many different kinds of dahlias and every one of them pretty. If you don’t already, I hope this inspires you to grow your own. What are your favorites?
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