Few garden plants have inspired such passion as dahlias, dating back to their first introduction to Europe in the 17th Century. They are easy to grow tuberous half hardy perennials, and there are many thousand dahlia varieties in a huge range of shapes and sizes and in a wonderful variety of colours from white and yellow to deep shades of purple so dark that they are almost black. Some gardeners consider them too flamboyant for the temperate garden - others adore them; their most ardent devotees form societies, send each other newsletters and fill their gardens with ever more sumptuous blooms.
The Origin and History of Dahlias
Dahlias occur naturally in Mexico and South America, where the Spaniards first “discovered” them. The earliest reference to them occurred in 1615, but were then considered as an edible tuber rather than an ornamental flowering plant. At first, they didn’t attract much notice in Europe and weren’t recorded again until the late 18th century when the first tubers were sent back to Europe.
The dahlia was still considered primarily an edible plant until 1815 when the first double flowered varieties were bred in Belgium and they quickly became a popular garden plant. They hybridise very easily and by the late 19th Century more than a hundred different varieties were listed.
Modern Dahlia Groups and Classification
Today there are over 50,000 different dahlias in cultivation, and to try to bring a degree of order to the bewildering array of shapes, sizes and colours of dahlia flowers they are classified in ten different groups, ranging from Single and Anemone Flowered types to Pompoms, Large Decorative and Cactus flowered dahlias. At this point the classifying committee seems to have given up, and the tenth group is named simply “Miscellaneous”.
They range in size from dwarf dahlia forms which wouldn’t seem out of place in the alpine garden to head-high stems bearing massive 6 - 8 inch blooms.
Colours, too, range over almost the whole spectrum, excepting only green and blue, although there are lavender and mauve shades, as well as bi- and multi-colours.
The Decorative and Cactus types are generally considered the most spectacular, and are the most popular with the non-specialist gardener.
Planting Dahlias in the Garden or Patio
Dahlias are often grown grouped together in formal bedding schemes for maximum impact. However, planting dahlias in small groups in mixed plantings can be very effective, and they also look well as pot grown plants on a patio.
Dahlia Care and Cultivation
The cultivation of dahlias is quite easy but, as they are tender plants, care is needed in overwintering dahlias in frost prone areas.
Tony Allen - In 2004 I began my "fourth career" as a freelance writer. In my first career, after training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I ...
