Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis)
NATIVE RANGE:
High elevations of Central America
DESCRIPTION:
Perennial plants with tuberous roots, dahlias are related to sunflowers, daisies, zinnias and other star-shaped flowering plants. Some varieites grow only a foot high, while others can become small trees.
VARIETIES:
Dahlia plants exhibit an incredible variety in size, shape, and color. There are 42 different species of dahlias, and without getting into and extensive discussion of plant genetics, it’s worth noting that they have eight pairs of chromosomal possibilities. Humans, for example, only have two sets, one from the mother and one from the father. Crossbreeding different dahlias can produce a huge variety of characteristics, which can of course be crossbred again. Because of this, you can find dahlia flowers that are only 2 inches (5cm) in diameter and other “dinner plate” varieties that are larger than your head. Some dahlia plants only grow a foot high, while other become small trees stretching 20 feet high. Colors can range from white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, blue, to multicolored.
EDIBLE PLANTS:
Like a potato, dahlias store food in tuberous roots, which can be dug up in fall and eaten. While ethnobotanists can only speculate on their status as an agricultural plant in pre-Columbian times, dahlia tubers are still used today in some Mexican cuisines. For a more detailed description of the tubers and some how- to guidance check out this article by Cultivariable.
