Flowers have a romantic history, with their honey sweet aromas, silky soft textures and cheerful appearance. The Dahlia flower is one of the the most enchanting and elegant of all flowers. The name itself conveys an image of mystique. One theory of the origin of the word “Dahlia” suggests a beginning in Eastern cultures. The “Dah” sound is remarkably similar to many Hindu Indian words. In the Hindu language, this part of the name signifies a certain godly essence, while the “lia” indicates an effeminate quality, an apt portrayal of the flowers’ gentle beauty. With these two combined, it’s likely that the word Dahlia means, roughly, “strong divine feminine”.
With over 1800 varieties, the Dahlia flower is among the most easily recognized kinds in the world. So special and important was the Dahlia flower in the horticultural circles, that an international conference was held to determine what is, and what is not, a Dahlia flower.
In 1962, at the International Horticultural Congress in Brussels, a conference was held to determine what could be classified as a Dahlia flower. Color and shape were out of the question, as those descriptors were both open to interpretation. Instead, it was decided that the center disk must be double, and not visible. The disk could either be curling inwards, outwards, or both.
What makes the Dahlia flower unique is the fact that it consists of two (or more) flowers within one. That may sound confusing, but let us describe this lovely piece of nature’s art. In the single layer Dahlias, the flowers spring forth from a central disk, with the tips either perfectly rounded, or sharply pointed. Some varieties have each individual petal divided into up to six sections.
The Anemone flowered Dahlia is a wonder of mother earth. While the central disk does indeed exist, it is not visible, due to the enormous number of petals embedded within. These are classified as a “Fancy Flower”, as they are indeed, quite elegant.
One of the most attractive Dahlia flowers is known as the Ball Dahlia. The name does not do it justice. The flower is large and honey comb like. With eleven layers of petals, each layer piled on top of another, the overall design is a spiral shape, which tapers towards the top of the Dahlia flower.
So entrancing are these flowers that films have been named after them, and authors have written about them. Most recently, the big-screen adaption of “The Black Dahlia Murders” was released. An indie film, called “The Black Dahlia” is currently in production. The plot centers around the enchanting beauty and fragility of the Dahlia flower, and was written by, and stars, the world renowned guitarist, Gidget Gein.
This goes to show just how amazing this flower is, with an international conference held to study and define it, and with the admiration of a rock legend.
Matt | 
04 30th, 2008| 