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Dahlia pinnata
Also called Dahlia, Garden Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata is the type species of the dahlia genus, a tuberous perennial from Mexico grown widely as a garden flower. Give it full sun, rich soil and steady moisture, then lift and store the tubers in cold climates.
Dahlia pinnata (D. × pinnata) is a species in the genus Dahlia, family Asteraceae, with the common name garden dahlia. It is the type species of the genus and is widely cultivated.
Used as an ornamental plant, and was cultivated by the Aztecs before the discovery of America, and was introduced to Spain in 1798. Modern dahlias are often the product of hybridisation between D. pinnata and D. coccinea. As cut flowers, dahlias have a long lifespan.
Besides being used for their outside appearance, dahlias tend to be used for their medicinal properties as well. According to Glenn Ross Whitley, this plant's roots contain some inulin and the tubers have "antibiotic compounds concentrated in [their] skin". This apparently contributed to the status of the plant as an "important root crop and medicinal plant among the pre-Columbian Indians of central Mexico, Yucatan and Guatemala".
It is geographically located in Central America, tending to grow at borders. The plant occurs in Mexico in the mountains around Mexico City.
The plant's phytostabilization properties regarding arsenic could lower the risk of the harmful carcinogen to humans.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Dahlia pinnata by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
