Dahlia
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.
| 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 |
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.
- •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
12 named dahlia cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Frequently asked questions
When is Dahlia in season?
Dahlia peaks in July, August, September, October, and florists can usually source it June, July, August, September, October, November. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Dahlia last in a vase?
Expect 4–7 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Dahlia?
Good substitutes for Dahlia include Chrysanthemum, Zinnia, Peony, Tithonia. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Dahlia symbolise?
Dahlia is associated with elegance, inner strength, creativity.
How do you care for cut Dahlia?
Hollow stems collapse in warm water — always cool water
