The language of Dahlias

How these sculptural flowers came to receive their name...

Dahlias are one of the favourite summer flowers - seen throughout the warmer months in Britain. They are closely related to sunflowers, daisies & chrysanthemum and are native to Mexico and Central America.

There are 42 known species of dahlias, coming in a variety of shapes and colours.

The dahlia has been the national flower of Mexico since 1963 and was also the favourite flower of Queen Victoria.

Initially, in the language of flowers, dahlias were known as vegetables as their tubers are edible and historically were used to balance blood

sugar levels before insulin was found.