Delilah flower is a type of dahlia. They are both members of the Asteraceae family and also have other famous flowers such as daisies, sunflowers, zinnias and chrysanthemums. They can be planted in the spring as small brownish biennial tubers. Delilah flowers like the mild climate of moist soil.
Following are some promising facts about it:
FACTS & FIGURES
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FLOWER: Belongs to Daisy group and has circular flowers with ray florets in various colors and shapes.
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FAME: Delilah is the national flower of Mexico. It is also the official flower of San Francisco and Seattle.
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SEASON: Delilah grows from small tubers planted in spring season
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ANNUAL OR PERENNIAL : Delilas are typically perennial with tube roots but are annuals in some parts of the world with cold winters.
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SIZE: It can vary from tiny 2-inch pompoms to large size 15-inch flower. Most diversities grow about 4 to 5 feet tall.
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COLOUR: The colour ranges from pink, red to orange, yellow. Each hue is beautiful in its own way.
SYMBOLIC MEANING OF DELILAH FLOWER
Delilah flower is also called Miss Delilah flower. It is associated with messages of enduring grace and also signals of warning. Delilah flower is the official birth flower for August although other traditions recognize it as November birth flower as well. Delilah flowers hold different symbolism depending on their colors.
Whether alone or mixed with other blooms, dahlias are sure to delight. Delilah flower symbolizes change, creativity, dignity, elegance, inner strength and lifelong commitment between two people.
At one time, the Delilah had religious feelings in Victorian Europe; however, today it indicates strong emotion and a spirit of âwildness.â If you know someone who is on the verge of a big change, a step forward, upcoming travel or a new chapter in life, the dahlia can be the perfect gift.
CHARACTERISTICS
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PETALS: The most impressive characteristics of the delilah flower is its ringed petals.
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PATTERNS: These flowers are available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and flowering patterns.
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GROWTH: In the spring time they grow from small planted tubers .
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CLIMATE: Delilah love moderate, moist climates. Though not well suited to extremely hot climates
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SYMBOLISM: They symbolize elegance, inner strength, creativity, change, and dignity. Some others believe that it is a representation of diversity.
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USES: The tubers are antibiotic in nature and an excellent remedy to cure skin infections. Crushed petals can relieve soreness and inflammation.They can also aid symptoms of insect bites and insect stings.
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CONSUMPTION: Can be garnished over dishes. Flower petals can be added to salads. Used in various products such as DahliaDip, Cream cheese and Dahlia Bread.
DELILAH FLOWER TYPES
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) classification identifies 14 different groups of Delilah flowers, grouped by flower types, as follows:
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Single Delilah flower
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Anemone-Flowered Delilah flower
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Collerette Delilah flower
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Waterlily Delilah flower
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Decorative Delilah flower
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Ball Delilah flower
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Pompon Delilah flower
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Cactus Delilah flower
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Semi-Cactus Delilah flower
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Miscellaneous Delilah flower
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Fimbriated Delilah flower
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Single Orchid Delilah flower
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Double Orchid Delilah flower
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Peony-Flowered Delilah flower
Here are various groups of Delilah flower, with distinctive flower characteristics some of the main types of dahlias are described as below:
1.Single Delilah Flower
A single type dahlia flower has a characteristic open centered disc which comprises of tiny florets in the middle of the flower. Petals will usually form one row around the center The petals may be rounded or pointed and may overlap .Single dahlia is quite small and about 4 inches or 10 cm across. This type of dahlia is attractive to pollinators.
Varieties of single Delilah flower
Delilah Omo
Pale white petals with a central yellow disc. The stems and leaves are dark green and the plant produces a very good crop of flowers. In this type flowers grow about 40 cm tall.
Preston Park
The center is purple, with yellow anthers forming a ring around it. This type of flower has almost black stem and foliage. This Delilah reaches a height of 45 cm (18 inches) and flowers are 2 inches or 5 cm wide.
Delilah Harvest Amanda
This Delilah grows to a height of 50 cm (20 inches).This flower is orange in colour, with green foliage.
2.Cactus dahlia flowers
Cactus Delilah flowers have fully double blooms, with very narrow petals from the tip to the base, that curve outwards They have beautiful spiny petals that are rolled up along more than two-thirds of their length.
3. Pompon dahlia flower
The pompon Delilah flower is probably one of the happiest flowers around. It just screams summer and bright, shiny times. Pompon dahlias are perfect spheres, formed of petals that are curved inwards. Their flowers are tiny in size as compared to ball dahlias.
4.Ball Delilah flower
Ball Delilah are larger than pompon Delilah flower and have a spiral arrangement of curved petals that form a ball or a slightly flattened sphere.
How to grow Delilah flower from Seed Step by Step
Following video is a step by step guide on how to grow a dahlia flower.
When to plant Delilah flower?
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Donât be in a hurry to plant; dahlias will struggle in cold soil. Ground temperature should reach 60°F.
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Plant them a little after the tomato plants go in
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Start with large, healthy dahlia tubers.
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Break up the soil where you will plant your Delilah flower
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Dig a hole about 4-7 inches deep, wide enough to spread out the tubers.
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Work bone meal into the soil about 1 inch below where you will plant the Delilah tubers. Sprinkle about 1 inch of soil on top of it, before planting your Delilah tubers.
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Plant Delilah tubers 4-6 inches deep, 12-24 inches apart, depending upon the mature size of the plant.
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Delilah flowers wonât thrive in areas that are soggy and prefer soil that is rich enough to support their âheavy feedingâ needs.
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Leave Delilah tubers attached, do not pull them apart
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Plant Delilah tubers 4-6 inches deep, 12-24 inches apart.
Choosing a planting site
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Select a planting site with full sun.
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Delilah flowers grow more blooms with 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
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They love the morning sunlight best.
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Choose a location with a bit of protection from the wind.
Find a location where the soil drains well.
Some gardeners start tubers indoors in containers a month ahead to get a jump on the season. Medium to small size dahlias will surely grow well in containers.
If you have a heavier (clay) soil, add in sand, peat moss, or aged manure to lighten and loosen the soil texture for better drainage.
Dig up the soil where you planned to plant your Delilah flower.
Large Delilah flowers and those grown solely for cut flowers are best grown in a dedicated plot in rows on their own, free from competition from other plants.
How to Grow Delilah flowers in Pots
Delilah flowers grow well in pots, though you need to be very careful not to let them repeatedly dry out.
Due to their height and weight, many gardeners may feel skeptical about planting them in pots. However, dahlias can thrive in large containers; tall varieties also need a stake for extra support.
MAKING DELILAH BOUQUETS
Dahlias look gorgeous when arranged in a bouquet. Remember, the more you cut them, the more they will bloom.
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Collect the flowers into a bouquet
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Cut the stems in the morning before the heat of the day and place them in a bucket of cool water.
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Remove the lower leaves from the stems and place the dahlias in a jar.
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Place the vase in a cool place and check the water daily.
The flower bouquet will be fresh for about seven days.
DELILAH FLOWERING SEASON ACROSS THE WORLD
Different countries have different months of planting dahlia flowers depending on their location and climate.
Delilah flower season in Pakistan
Dahlia tubers are usually planted during August, September and October in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad and in cities/towns throughout the plains with seeds sown during the same period.
Delilah flower season in UK
For most in the UK, this is at the end of May, but in Scotland this is more typically early to mid of June.
Delilah flower season in Canada
Delilah Tubers can be planted from Mid-April until Early June in Canada, depending on your location and your climate. Delilah flowers love to be in a sunny location. An area that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight is preferred.
Summary
Delilah are large enough to add presence to a border or to stand alone as a featured plant. The multitude of different varieties offers countless different flower shapes and colors. Delilah flower grows in an area that receives direct sunlight.
How to Store Delilah Tubers
Pack in a loose, fluffy material.
Store in a well-ventilated, frost-free place at around 45°F (7°C).
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Delilah flower like sun or shade?
Plant them in a location where it faces sun which will give them direct sunlight of about 6-8 hours and enjoy flourish all summer. The more you cut a Dahlia plant the more it will bloom.
2. Do Delilah flowers come back year after year?
When temperatures plummet the leaves and remaining blooms collapse in a heap. All is not lost. The tubers that grow down side of the ground are not harmed and can live to bring about again year after year by giving a little care.
3. Can I leave my Delilah flower in the ground over winter?
If you live in hardiness zones where winter temperatures rarely fall below 20° F, you may leave your dahlia tubers right in the ground. Simply cut the plants back to several inches above soil level. They will start growing again in spring.
4.How do I store my Delilah flowers over winter?
Drying is important to saving dahlia flowers over winter and preventing them from rotting. Cut off the foliage and carefully dig out the tubers. Brush off excess dirt and let the tubers dry for a few days.
5. How long can you store Delilah tubers?
You can store Delilah tubers until theyâre dry completely . This process takes approximately three weeks.
6. What does the Black Delilah flower represent?
Black Delilah flower, which are actually dark burgundy, convey negative meanings compared to the other shades. Since they have the strongest hue of all dahlias, they often symbolize betrayal, sadness, and other negative emotions.
7. What flower is a symbol of death?
Chrysanthemum has many meanings, but it is often used as an expression of support or an encouragement to get well soon. In many countries across Europe, the chrysanthemum is placed on graves of the people and viewed as a death symbol.
CONCLUSION
Whether combined with other cut flowers or used on their own in any floral arrangement, Delilah flower is always spectacular and a popular choice among gardeners, brides, florists and day to day viewers.