We’ve talked a lot about growing dahlias on the Sweet Earth blog. We’ve covered the basics of dahlias in our Flower Focus post, how we grow dahlias on the flower farm, and how to pot up tubers.

Today we’re talking about something a little different: the meaning of dahlias based on their color.

Dahlias are symbols of love, devotion, and dignity. As Floraly shares, dahlias have held these meanings since the Victorian era, when floriography — the language of flowers — became popular.

But did you know that different varieties of dahlias have different meanings? We’re going to cover the meanings of some of our favorite dahlia varieties in this blog post.

Cafe au Lait

Cream, white, and blush dahlias, like the Cafe au Lait, symbolize fresh beginnings. These are the perfect choice for events like baby showers, weddings, or baptisms — events that symbolize new adventures.

Diva

According to Fresh Trimmings, purple dahlias symbolize royalty. This is true not just for dahlias — the color purple represents royalty across many areas. These Diva dahlias are iridescent purple and are perfect for grand events and to show admiration.

Caitlin's Joy

These pink dahlias have classically symbolized beauty and kindness, but according to The Bouqs Co., they also symbolize feminine beauty, making them the perfect choice for a birthday, Mother’s Day, anniversary, or other day celebrating the women in your life.

Baccara

These deep red dahlias symbolize strength and perseverance. If you’re bringing flowers to someone going through a hard time, the red dahlias will be a thoughtful and meaningful choice. We love this variety for its strong stems as well.

Myrthe

These fun orange dahlias symbolize creativity and enthusiasm. And the yellow on the edge of the petals symbolizes joy. They’re a great choice for exploring the art of floral design and other creative pursuits.

Want to dive more into designing with dahlias? Learn more about our Wine & Design Workshops.

Boom Boom White

These white dahlias can symbolize fresh beginnings, same as the Cafe au Lait dahlias, but according to Flower Meaning, white dahlias can also represent focus. You may want to have these dahlias on display in your home when you’re starting a new project!

Want to grow your own? Get on our newsletter to hear about our annual dahlia tuber sale.

Danique

As mentioned above, red dahlias symbolize strength and perseverance. However, red flowers in general have another classic meaning: love! The Danique dahlia has two tones of red and are perfect for a Valentine’s bouquet.

What is your favorite dahlia variety? We’d love to know! Come tell us on Instagram, we’re @sweetearthco.

If you want to receive our fresh, sustainably grown dahlias each week during their growing season, learn more about our Dreamy Dahlias CSA share.

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