Dahlias flowers are a
diverse and colorful group of flowers known for their vibrant and showy
blooms. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors, making them a
popular choice for gardens and floral arrangements.
Dahlias are perennial plants with tuberous roots, though they are grown
as annuals in some regions with cold winters. While some have herbaceous
stems, others have stems which lignify in the absence of secondary
tissue and resprout following winter dormancy, allowing further seasons
of growth. As a member of the Asteraceae, the dahlia has a flower head
that is actually a composite (hence the older name Compositae) with both
central disc florets and surrounding ray florets. Each floret is a
flower in its own right, but is often incorrectly described as a petal.
The modern name Asteraceae refers to the appearance of a star
with surrounding rays.