The Dahlia Flowers are native to Mexico and Central America. The Aztecs used them for food, decoration and ceremonies – and in 1963 they were named as the national flower of Mexico.
Dahlia Flowers grow from tubers, so they are part of the family of plants growing from bulbs, also called bulbous plants. They are also available as rooted cuttings, which are cuttings taken from the base stem from last years plants, and grown on in compost in specialist nurseries.
There is a great variety of form in dahlias, from the showy dinner-plate size to the bright, little single ones.
Varieties of Dahlias
There are wide varieties of dahlias based on their sizes, flowering patterns and resemblance to other flowers:
– Single-flowered Dahlias
– Anemone-flowered Dahlias
– Collerette Dahlias
– Waterlily Dahlias
– Decorative Dahlias
– Ball Dahlias
– Pompon Dahlias
– Cactus Dahlias
– Miscellaneous Dahlias
– Fimbriated Dahlias
– Single Orchid Dahlias (Star)
– Double Orchid Dahlias
– Single-flowered Dahlias
– Anemone-flowered Dahlias
– Collerette Dahlias
– Waterlily Dahlias
– Decorative Dahlias
– Ball Dahlias
– Pompon Dahlias
– Cactus Dahlias
– Miscellaneous Dahlias
– Fimbriated Dahlias
– Single Orchid Dahlias (Star)
– Double Orchid Dahlias
Collerette Dahlias
Dahlias grow naturally in climates which do not experience frost, consequently they are not adapted to withstand sub-zero temperatures. However their tuberous nature enables them to survive periods of dormancy, and this characteristic means that gardeners in temperate climates with frosts can grow dahlias successfully, provided the tubers are lifted from the ground and stored in cool yet frost-free conditions during the winter. Planting the tubers quite deep (10 – 15 cm) also provides some protection. When in active growth, modern dahlia hybrids perform most successfully in well-watered yet free-draining soils, in situations receiving plenty of sunlight. Taller cultivars usually require some form of staking as they grow, and all garden dahlias need deadheading regularly, once flowering commences.
Waterlily Dahlias
Slugs and snails are serious pests in some parts of the world, particularly in spring when new growth is emerging through the soil. Earwigs can also disfigure the blooms. The other main pests likely to be encountered are aphids (usually on young stems and immature flower buds), red spider mite (cause foliage mottling and discolouration, worse in hot and dry conditions) and capsid bugs (result in contortion and holes at growing tips). Diseases which may be found affecting dahlias include powdery mildew, grey mould (Botrytis cinerea), verticillium wilt, dahlia smut (Entyloma calendulae f. dahliae), phytophthora and some plant viruses.
Double Orchid Dahlias
Pompon Dahlias
Source: http://www.coolgarden.me
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