Why is it called dahlia?
The Dahlia was named after naturalist Anders Dahl by Antonio Jose Cavanilles, Director of the Royal Gardens of Madrid, in 1791. Similar to other imports from the Americas, dahlias proved unpopular as a food stuff when brought to Europe in the 18th century. Instead, they started to be grown as ornamentals. Black dahlias are extremely rare: less than 20 of 200,000 species of dahlia are black. But new research from scientists has thrown new light on how these dark flowers get their colour.Dahlias are immensely popular with gardeners and professional horticulturalists for showing at competitions. These delightful blooms can be incorporated into funeral arrangements to represent a vibrant and well-lived life.
What’s special about dahlias?
Unlike many other flowers, Dahlias are octoploids, which means that they have eight sets of chromosomes. For reference, humans only have two. This means there are countless hybridisation opportunities and an amazing genetic diversity which allows us to create the desirable characteristics. The name carries associations with beauty and elegance from its floral namesake, which was itself named after 18th-century Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. This combination of natural beauty and uncommon usage makes Dahlia an elegant choice that remains relatively undiscovered in English-speaking countries.Dahlia is a feminine given name derived from the name for the flower, which was named in honor of the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl.