Red dahlia

What does Red dahlia look like?

Red dahlia is a flowering plant in the daisy family. It grows upright and produces large, bright flowers that are most often red, but can also be orange or yellow. The blooms are showy, making the plant popular in gardens. Its leaves are green and divided, and the plant forms tubers underground.

Where does Red dahlia come from?

This species is native to Mexico, where it grows wild. It has been cultivated outside its native region for its attractive flowers. The plant was known and used by the Aztecs, who valued its tubers as a food source. After the Spanish conquest, the use of its tubers for food mostly disappeared.

When and how Red dahlia blooms

Red dahlia blooms from tubers, which are thickened underground stems. It is usually grown in gardens for its flowers, which appear in a range of warm colors. The plant is started from tubers or seeds and prefers sunny spots. It is grown both for its ornamental value and, in the past, for its edible tubers.

How Red dahlia is used

The main use of red dahlia today is as a garden flower, valued for its bright and varied colors. In the past, especially among the Aztecs, its tubers were eaten as a nutritious food. This tradition faded after the Spanish arrived, and now the plant is mostly grown for decoration.

Kinds of Red dahlia

The flowers of Dahlia coccinea can vary in color, with red being the most common, but orange and yellow forms also occur. There are no other named varieties or cultivars mentioned in the sources.

What Red dahlia means

Red dahlia is part of Mexico's native flora and was once important in Aztec food traditions. Today, it is mainly appreciated for its beauty in gardens. The plant is sometimes called 'red dahlia' even though its flowers can be other colors.

Where Red dahlia is used and seen

Parc floral de ParisA botanical garden and flower park in the Bois de Vincennes, ParisParc Floral de la SourceA large public garden in Orléans built around the source of the Loiret riverMendocino Coast Botanical GardensA coastal garden in Mendocino County, California with ocean views and diverse plantingsBaguio Botanical GardenA public garden in Baguio with local plants, art, and cultural displaysFlower gardenA garden space planted and arranged for flowering plants and seasonal bloomsFlower carpetPatterns made on the ground from fresh flowers or petalsGardens by the BaySingapore’s waterfront gardens with giant Supertrees and world-class glasshousesFlower Carpet of BrusselsA giant floral tapestry on Brussels’ Grand-Place every two years

Questions people ask about Red dahlia

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Dahlia coccineaRoyal Horticultural Society, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Dahlia coccinea on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data