Dahlia coccinea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dahlia coccinea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Dahlia
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| Species: |
coccinea
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Dahlia coccinea is a beautiful flowering plant that belongs to the daisy family, Asteraceae. You might know it by its common name, the red dahlia. Even though it's called "red dahlia," its flowers can actually be orange or sometimes yellow, not just red! This plant originally comes from Mexico. People have been growing it in many other countries for a long time because its flowers are so eye-catching and pretty.
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What is Dahlia Coccinea?
The Dahlia coccinea is a type of dahlia, which is a popular garden flower. It's known for its bright, colorful blooms. These plants can grow quite tall, often reaching about 3 to 5 feet (around 1 to 1.5 meters) high. They have green leaves and flowers that can be single or double, meaning they can have one or more layers of petals.
Where Does it Grow?
This dahlia species is native to the mountains of central and southern Mexico. It loves sunny places and well-drained soil. Because it's so beautiful, people have taken it from Mexico and now grow it in gardens all over the world, especially in places with warm climates.
How People Use Dahlia Coccinea
Long ago, the tubers (which are like underground stems that store food) of the Dahlia coccinea plant were an important food source.
Food for the Aztecs
The Aztecs, an ancient civilization in Mexico, used to eat the tubers of this plant. They were a good source of nutrition for them. However, after the Spanish arrived in Mexico, this practice of eating dahlia tubers mostly stopped. Today, dahlias are mostly grown for their stunning flowers rather than for food.
