Dahlia

The dahlia is the national flower of Mexico and this is also its birthplace. An old Aztec document states that the Aztecs used dahlias as a treatment for epilepsy. Only in the 19th century did the flower come to Europe where it was bred and cultivated into today's varieties.

Definition: Any of several plants of or developed from the species Dahlia pinnata having tuberous roots and showy rayed variously colored flower heads.

Description: Dahlia is a genus of bushy, summer- and autumn-flowering, tuberous perennials that are originally from Mexico , where they are the national flower. 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 from this plant, which was named Dahlia juarezii with parents of Dahlias discovered earlier and these are the progenitors of all modern Dahlia hybrids. Ever since, plant breeders have been actively breeding Dahlias to produce hundreds of cultivars, usually chosen for their stunning and brightly colored flowers. The dahlia is named after Swedish 18th-century botanist Anders Dahl.

Meanings of the Dahlia Flower : dignity, elegance