focal · moderate · mid
Dahlia
Dahlia · aka dinner-plate dahlia (large varieties)
The dahlia is the flower of late summer and autumn — a season most wedding calendars underweight. From tight pom-poms (5 cm) to dinner-plate cultivars (25+ cm), dahlias cover the whole design spectrum. Café au Lait (dusty blush) is the most-requested wedding dahlia in the world. Because they are local and seasonal, dahlias reward direct-from-farm sourcing.
At a glance
| Family | Asteraceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Central America (Mexico); commercially grown by local farms worldwide |
| Peak season | July, August, September, October |
| Availability | June, July, August, September, October, November |
| Stem length | 30–70 cm |
| Vase life | 4–7 days |
| Colors | white, cream, yellow, orange, peach, pink, coral, red, burgundy, purple, bicolor |
| Price tier | mid |
Conditioning
Cut stems in the early morning when hydrated. Sear stem ends in boiling water for 10 seconds, then plunge into cool water for hydration. Recut every 2 days.
Care in the vase
- •Hollow stems collapse in warm water — always cool water
- •Local, seasonal flower — buy from farms not wholesalers if possible
- •Do not refrigerate — cold burns the petals
- •Ball, cactus, and dinner-plate forms all serve different design roles
Design role & symbolism
Symbolismelegance, inner strength, creativity
Occasionsautumn events, wedding, harvest celebrations
Substituteschrysanthemum, zinnia, peony
seasonalautumnlocalwedding-favorite
