Dahlia (Cactus)
About the Dahlia (Cactus)
The cactus dahlia variety has spiky, pointed petals that create dramatic starburst shapes. Over 42,000 registered dahlia cultivars exist across 14 flower forms. The Aztecs cultivated them for food and medicine. They are octoploids with 8 sets of chromosomes, giving extraordinary diversity. They are the national flower of Mexico. Each flower can be 5-30 cm across. They produce more blooms per plant than almost any other garden flower. They are related to sunflowers and chrysanthemums. They are tuberous and must be lifted in cold climates.
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