Dahlias: Mexico’s national flower and queen of the fall

What it means to give dahlias

The dahlia is associated with elegance, dignity and lasting commitment. In the Victorian language of flowers it was a way of saying that your affection was steadfast and forever, and today it is also given to say thank you or to celebrate an achievement.

By color, red or burgundy is the most intense and romantic, pink conveys tenderness, white is used at weddings and yellow or orange is pure fall cheer. To learn more, see the meaning of each color.

The national flower of Mexico

The dahlia is native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America. The Mexica grew it long before the Spanish arrived: they called it acocoxóchitl, and they used its hollow stems and its roots as well as its flowers.

In the late 18th century seeds reached the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, where the botanist Antonio José Cavanilles named it Dahlia in 1791 after the Swede Anders Dahl. From there it spread across Europe. In 1963 Mexico declared it the national flower by decree.

When they are in season

The dahlia is the flower of late summer and fall. It blooms nonstop from July until the first frost:

• Spain: July, August, September, October.
• Mexico and Central America: July, August, September.
• Argentina, Chile and Uruguay: February, March, April.

That makes it one of the best options for gifts in October, when other seasonal flowers start to run short. In Mexico it shares the season with cempasúchil.

When to give dahlias

There is no specific date on which tradition calls for dahlias, but they work very well for:

• Fall birthdays: a bouquet of colorful dahlias stands out and is different from the usual roses.
• Anniversaries and weddings: because of their meaning of lasting commitment.
• To say thank you to someone who has helped you, because of their link with gratitude.

Types of dahlia

There are thousands of varieties, which florists group by the shape of the flower. The most common at florists are:

• Pompon: small and round like a ball, with rolled petals.
• Decorative: the most common, with broad, flat petals.
• Cactus: with thin, pointed petals, like stars.
• Giant or “dinnerplate”: flowers that can exceed 25 cm (10 in) across.

How to care for a bouquet of dahlias

1. Choose them almost fully open: unlike the peony, the dahlia barely opens after it is cut.
2. Cut the stem at an angle and remove any leaves that would sit below the water.
3. Clean, cool water every day: their hollow stems foul the water quickly.
4. Keep them away from heat and fruit: direct sun and the gas given off by ripe fruit shorten their life.

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to give dahlias?

Elegance, dignity and lasting commitment. In the language of flowers they were given to say that your affection is steadfast. Today they are also linked to gratitude and to celebrating something special.

Why is the dahlia the national flower of Mexico?

Because it is native to Mexico, where the Mexica already grew it under the Nahuatl name acocoxóchitl. It was declared the national flower by decree in 1963.

When is dahlia season?

In Spain, from July to October, and in Mexico, from July to September. In the southern hemisphere, from February to April. In the garden they keep blooming until the first frost.

Why is it called dahlia?

The Spanish botanist Antonio José Cavanilles named it in 1791 after the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl, from plants that had arrived from Mexico at the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid.

Are there blue dahlias?

No. Dahlias come in almost every color, from white to an almost black burgundy, but no variety is truly blue. The blue ones you see online are dyed or edited.