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Dahlia is a common and relatively unpretentious plant. The flower is also called dahlia after the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl. Numerous varieties of dahlias open up a large selection of colors and shapes for the gardener.
Brief description of culture
Both names of the culture are associated with the names of botanists – Dahl and Georg, who studied the plant. In addition, flowers are often called georgini. Dahlias belong to the Aster family, have about 40 species and about 15 thousand varieties. Culture can be either annual or perennial.
The peculiarity of dahlia lies in the structure of its inflorescences, which are formed from several flowers growing in different directions. The flowers are called inflorescence-basket. It is thanks to the complex structure that there are so many varieties of this plant, which are sometimes completely different in external characteristics. The root system of the plant is root-tuberous, that is, it is formed by thickened roots.
The culture is undemanding in care. It is important to choose a sunny area in the garden, nutritious soil, and also moisten and feed it in a timely manner.
Dahlias are used not only for decorative purposes. Substances that the composition of the plant is rich in help cleanse the body of toxins. Bud decoctions are useful for diseases of the cardiovascular system, and leaf tinctures will help prevent diabetes.
Flowers are also used in the cosmetic field. The buds, ground to a state of powder, are combined with a chicken egg, honey and applied to the hair. Thanks to such procedures, the hair becomes strong, healthy and shiny. The leaves of the culture can be applied to problem areas on the face, as well as cuts.
There are quite frequent disputes about what kind of this culture is, because the names of dahlia and dahlia are common. The question is still open, so both options are considered correct.
Video “Storage, planting and caring for dahlias”
From this video you will learn how to properly plant dahlias and care for plants.
Dahlia classification
Due to the fact that the genus is constantly replenished with new varieties bred in the course of breeding, there was an urgent need to create a plant classification. It is important to take into account the fact that the classifications use the average size of healthy cultures. In practice, these figures may differ.
By inflorescence size
According to the diameter of the flowers, dahlias are divided into:
- giants – from 25 cm;
- large – 20–25 cm;
- medium – 15–20 cm;
- small – 10-15 cm;
- miniature – up to 10 cm.
Height
The length of the stem determines whether the plant belongs to the following categories:
- tall – more than 1,2 m;
- medium height – 90–120 cm;
- undersized – 60–90 cm;
- dwarf – up to 60 cm.
International classification of dahlias
Different countries have their own classification of culture, but there is also an international one that separates plants according to the shape of the inflorescence. It was adopted in 1962 and is considered universal. So, this classification includes the following groups:
- simple;
- collar;
- anemone;
- nymphaeal;
- cactus;
- semi-cactus;
- spherical;
- pompoms;
- decorative;
- transitional.
Varieties and varieties of dahlia
It is difficult to list all varieties of dahlias. However, you can get acquainted with the most common and popular among domestic gardeners.
Simple
The simple form of inflorescences is characterized by the arrangement of petals in one row. In length, such plants reach 60 cm, and the diameter of the flowers varies in the region of 5–12 cm.
Anna Karina
Dahlia is characterized by snow-white flowers. The height of the stem reaches 50–70 cm.
Alpen Sara
This is a low-growing dahlia, the flowers of which have an unusual color – white with cherry-colored stripes.
Wellow Hammer
The variety is medium-sized, the flowers ripen up to 10 cm in diameter. The color of the inflorescences is bright yellow.
Murillo
Dahlia is similar to the previous one, has an average stem height and small flowers. Blooms vary in color from pink to dark purple.
Anemone
These crops grow from 60 to 90 cm in height. Inflorescences form several rows of petals, and their appearance resemble anemones.
Asahi Chokhi
The height of the dalia stem reaches 1–1,2 m. The core of the inflorescences consists of tubular petals of a milky hue, reed petals are white with a red border.
Blue Bayou
Ripe flowers reach a diameter of 10–17 cm. The inflorescence is formed from ligulate petals of lilac color and a bright purple core.
Brio
Dahlia belongs to the group of undersized plants. The bright red flowers are 12–15 cm in diameter.
Honey
Dahlia reaches half a meter in height and forms unusually beautiful inflorescences. They have a crimson hue, which smoothly flows to the core into pale yellow. In addition, the petals are characterized by a fringed structure, which gives the plant a special charm.
collared
Such plants reach a height of 130 cm. The flowers have a diameter of 8–10 cm. A characteristic feature of this group of dahlias is the structure of the flowers: they consist of several rows of short twisted petals that form a kind of “collar”.
Alpen Mary Lloyd
The height of the stem, as a rule, does not exceed 1 m. The inflorescences are painted in several shades of pink.
Impression Fantastico
The shrub belongs to undersized varieties. The inflorescence consists of several layers: the outer one has a red tint, the middle one is pink and white, and the core is yellow.
Night Butterfly
The height of the stem reaches 70 cm, the flowers are rich burgundy with a white “collar”.
Flamenco
The undersized culture has small inflorescences, painted in red, yellow and white.
Nymphaeaceae
A characteristic feature of these dahlias are double flowers that ripen up to 15 cm in diameter.
The height of such plants, as a rule, does not exceed 1,3 m.
Angela
This variety is actively used in floristry. Large milky-pink inflorescences flaunt on tall stems.
Bahamas Red
Shrubs grow up to 1,2 m, have small cherry blossoms.
Today
Tall culture, characterized by an unusual shade of flowers. The petals are painted in lilac color with a purple border.
Sugar Kane
Baskets of this variety of dahlia are large. The outer row of petals has a slightly raised edge. Inflorescences are painted in milky color with pinkish tips.
Decorative
The height of such flowers reaches 1,5 m. The inflorescences are large – up to 27 cm in diameter.
A. Hamplay
The stem reaches 1,3 m in height, crowned with large baskets of inflorescences. The color is usually lilac or pink.
Lucky Nambre
Culture is great for creating bouquets. The inflorescences are large, painted in pale pink shades.
Prince Carnival
The variety is characterized by large flowers, painted white with bright red patches.
tartan
The variety is characterized by wavy petals and a very large inflorescence. The flowers are painted in cherry and purple hues. The core is white.
Spherical
This type of dahlia is characterized by large flowers with rounded petals.
Annushka
The variety was bred by breeders. It has large purple flowers.
Icon
The height of the stems usually does not exceed 1 m. The flowers are quite large, yellow with red tips.
Rocco
Baskets are large, have burgundy and dark cherry shades.
Silvia
The inflorescences are extraordinarily beautiful. They are painted in a pale orange color and have rounded petals.
Pompoms
This variety is characterized by spherical flowers with a rounded top. The height of such crops ranges from 70–130 cm.
Acrobat
The petals of this variety are folded, have a pink color.
albino
The petals are symmetrically folded, painted in white and milky tones. The height of the stem does not exceed 1 m.
Anke
The flowers are spherical, deep red.
Bantling
The baskets are densely formed, the petals are tubular, painted in coral color. Buntling reaches a height of 0,8–0,9 m.
cactus
The height of such dahlias reaches 1,5 m. The flowers are large, the petals are wrapped inside. Because of this, marginal flowers are needle-shaped.
One of the most popular varieties is Anna Maria, characterized by large white-purple flowers.
Black Bird
The diameter of the flowers, as a rule, is about 13–16 cm. The color is scarlet with a burgundy core.
Windhaven Highlight
Inflorescences are large, needle-shaped, have a yellow color.
Jessica
The culture is high. Baskets are quite large, with yellow petals and a red border.
White Star
The petals have a curved shape and delicate cream shades. Diameter – about 23 cm.
Semi-cactus
In height, this species reaches one and a half meters, has large inflorescences. The petals are turned outward, have pointed tips.
Ice Princess
The diameter of the inflorescence is about 15–18 cm. The color is snow-white.
Adlerstein
Tall variety. Flowers orange, large.
Aitara Success
In height, the culture does not exceed 1 m. The shade of the inflorescences varies from pale pink to yellowish.
Andrew Mitchell
Shrub tall, inflorescence ripens up to 20 cm in diameter. The color of the flowers is bright red.
Mixed
This category includes those varieties whose characteristics do not correspond to the above species. Mixed dahlias have a wide variety of shapes and shades of inflorescences.
Bishop of Llandaff
The plant has small red flowers with a slight purple tint.
Pink giraffe
A very original plant, the flowers of which will decorate any bouquet. Shrub medium-sized, with large inflorescences. The variety is characterized by a curved shape of the petals and a pink color with white stripes.
Lilliputians
Midgets are not marked in the international classification, since this group of plants appeared relatively recently.
Lilliputians are annual, have early maturation. They are usually not pinned down.
Author’s advice
white midget
A dwarf variety characterized by small white flowers with a bright yellow center.
Jolly Fellows
This variety includes dahlias of different colors, which is the reason for the name of the variety. The shrub grows up to 35 cm in height. Inflorescences can be both simple and terry.
Ease of care, unpretentiousness and bright appearance of dahlias attract those summer residents who want to have a garden of original and unusual flowers on their site.