The Delightful Dahlia
Dahlia is a genus of bushy, summer- and autumn-flowering, tuberous perennials that are originally from Mexico.
Originally noted by Spanish conquistadors, Dahlias first became well know in the early 1600s. 200 years passed before dahlias came to Europe. By the early 18th century the first fully double forms began to emerge. From 1810 to 1840 dahlias were popular as nurserymen continued to expand the combinations of colors in dahlias that were global in shape. Soon however, as is with many other breeding projects, it was felt that all combinations had been reached and the interest in dahlias began to wane.
In 1872 a box of Dahlia roots were sent from Mexico to the Netherlands. Only one plant survived the trip, but produced spectacular red flowers with pointed petals. Nurserymen bred this plant, which was named Dahlia juarezii, with parents of earlier dahlias and these are the progenitors of all modern Dahlia hybrids. Ever since then, plant breeders have been actively breeding Dahlias to produce hundreds of cultivars, usually chosen for their stunning and brightly colored flowers.
Dahlias prefer sunlight and do not like standing water. They are very drought resistant and branch freely, making them an excellent addition to any garden. Most varieties need to be dug up in fall to avoid winter rot.