THE POPULAR DAHLIA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 590, 16 February 1929, Page 28

THE POPULAR DAHLIA

The dahlia, or rather the genus dahlia, is a native of Mexico and the central part of America. Our first record of dahlia verabilis, from which our modern varieties are for the most part sprung, shows it under the old Aztec name of Acoctle. The Aztecs were the Indians inhabiting Mexico before the Spanish conquest. Before Cortez and his Spaniards over-ran that country, a high civilisation flourished there, a civilisation which had reached great heights in many of the sciences, and particularly that of agriculture and irrigation. They had brought many plants into everyday use, outstanding among which were the potato, the Indian corn or maize, the cocoa bean, as well as many lesser known plants which have not proved to the liking of European palates. Among the latter was the dahlia.

The first name given to it by Europeans was Georgeana, after the botanist, Professor Georgei, of St. Petersburg, and we frequently find it under this name in foreign catalogues. Our present name of dahlia came to it some time later in honour of Dr. Andrew Dahl, a celebrated Swedish botanist.

The dahlia is reported to have been introduced into the Botanical Gardens at Madrid in 1789, and some six years later we hear of it being brought to England by the Marchioness of Bute. This variety, dahlia verabilis, soon began to give rise to other forms and colours, at first single. Gradually the number of petals began to increase, till finally in ISI4 there appeared in the Botanical Gardens at Brussels, in Belgium, a double form. From this time on the so-called show type developed, and was all the rage among growers during the last half of the last century. There appeared a miniature form, known as “Pompone” dahlias, about ISSS, and these two forms held sway There appeared a miniature form, known as “Pompone” dahlias, about 1858, and these two forms held sway till the last decade of the century saw the “cactus” type begin to gain ground. The cactus dahlias sprung from a species named Juarezi, named in honour of Professor Juarez, of Mexico. This was discovered in 1872. Sent home to England, it was first exhibited in 1880, and from that time on began to grow in popular favour. The first decade of the 20th century saw the popularity of the cactus at its height, to be followed in 1908 by the paeony, then the decorative, and finally by the hosts of types that appear almost yearly. The dahlia is not so particular as mar.y plants are, and will succeed under a great many diverse conditions. There are, however, certain positions where the dahlia seems to excel. An open sunny spot, protected from winds, seems to favour them at all times. High-land or low-land, hillside or plain, give equally .good results. We find that dahlias are particularly suited for growing near the sea, where they not only do well, but grow and thrive apace.