Stella Rose Farm
Edible flowers, microgreens, mushrooms, maple products
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860-459-7578 |
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Litchfield, CT |
Stella Rose Farm is a small farm in Litchfield, Connecticut that specializes in edible flowers, cut flowers, and herbs. We grow 50+ varieties of dahlias each year, and always have a small selection of tubers available for sale in the spring.
Dahlias are one of the most beloved summer flowers, and it is certainly a favorite of ours. They are late to the party of summer flowers here in NW Connecticut, often not blooming until late mid-August, but they are well worth the wait. Once they start, they will provide color and abundant flowers for cutting until frost. The more you cut a dahlia plant, the more it blooms.
In addition to their beauty there is a rich history behind them. Dahlias are native to Mexico, Guatemala, and other parts of Central America where they grew wild. They were first cultivated by the Aztecs for both food and medicine. In fact, plant breeders in Europe were more interested in them as a food source and they were initially classified as a vegetable. The edible tubers are starchy, rich in inulin, and used like potatoes. The tuber skins and petals were used to treat skin conditions. Spanish botanists brought dahlia seeds and tubers back to Spain in the late 18th century, and from there they spread across Europe with botanists breeding to create new cultivars. There are now over 50,000 varieties, categorized by flower size and form. The American Dahlia Society lists 21 different forms for the flowers, which are found in all colors except blue. During the Victorian era, dahlias were a symbol of commitment, making them a popular wedding flower, and they still are today. They have also been considered symbolic of grace, dignity, creativity, and elegance.
There are many good sources online and in gardening books on how to grow dahlias. Here a two that also include their history:
The American Dahlia Society – https://www.dahlia.org
The National Dahlia Society (UK) - https://www.dahlia-nds.co.uk/
Another source for the historical info is in the following online article:
Gardening Know How’s blog - https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/dahlia-plant-history-uses
Dahlias are one of the most beloved summer flowers, and it is certainly a favorite of ours. They are late to the party of summer flowers here in NW Connecticut, often not blooming until late mid-August, but they are well worth the wait. Once they start, they will provide color and abundant flowers for cutting until frost. The more you cut a dahlia plant, the more it blooms.
In addition to their beauty there is a rich history behind them. Dahlias are native to Mexico, Guatemala, and other parts of Central America where they grew wild. They were first cultivated by the Aztecs for both food and medicine. In fact, plant breeders in Europe were more interested in them as a food source and they were initially classified as a vegetable. The edible tubers are starchy, rich in inulin, and used like potatoes. The tuber skins and petals were used to treat skin conditions. Spanish botanists brought dahlia seeds and tubers back to Spain in the late 18th century, and from there they spread across Europe with botanists breeding to create new cultivars. There are now over 50,000 varieties, categorized by flower size and form. The American Dahlia Society lists 21 different forms for the flowers, which are found in all colors except blue. During the Victorian era, dahlias were a symbol of commitment, making them a popular wedding flower, and they still are today. They have also been considered symbolic of grace, dignity, creativity, and elegance.
There are many good sources online and in gardening books on how to grow dahlias. Here a two that also include their history:
The American Dahlia Society – https://www.dahlia.org
The National Dahlia Society (UK) - https://www.dahlia-nds.co.uk/
Another source for the historical info is in the following online article:
Gardening Know How’s blog - https://blog.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/dahlia-plant-history-uses