Dahlias come in an astonishing variety of colors and shapes. And no wonder. Garden enthusiasts and botanists have created between 20,000 and 50,000 different varieties of the much loved flower over the past two centuries.
It was once thought that there were over 100 species of dahlias, as enthusiastic gardrners and botanists sought to confirm hybrids as true dahlia species. Now the American Dahlia Association has determined there are only 42 true dahlia species. Notably, most of the hybridized varieties were developed from just two of the wild species.
Dahlias are not only loved for their astonishing colors, varieties and shapes, but also for the longevity of their blooms. Most begin to bloom in early summer, and continue to delight us through first frost. The Single dahlias which have a single row of overlapping petals are absolute heaven for bees and other pollinators.
The photos below were taken by Lisa Force and Shawn Maul at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia in July 2024. Enjoy!
Photo Courtesy, Shawn Maul
