Dahlias go viral as social media makes these classic flowers cool again

Pamela Armstrong's love affair with the dahlia began when she moved into a new home in Toowoomba.

"I have bought my house in the winter. And in the spring, all these beautiful things appeared on their own in the garden," she said.

"I didn't know what it was. was. So they found me. And I've been in I Love Them Ever since."

Producers say pastels are hugely popular in 2023.(Supplied: Christina Lowry)< /figure>

The flower, a relative of t The sunflower and the daisy enjoy a revival that Mrs. Armstrong puts into her perfect form.

" I think a lot of the popularity is on social media because people can see how great they are," she said.

"They were big in the 1950s - I remember my grandparents had them - and right now we are reaching a peak in dahlia popularity."< /p>

Dahlias have become very popular in the wedding industry and florists have approached garden growers to meet demand.

"There is so much demand," Ms. Armstrong said.< /p>

"It's absolutely amazing. And the younger generation loves these chunky flowers."

Flower breeder Peter Mason said the pursuit of perfection in social media suits the dahlia.

Peter Mason and Pamela Armstrong say that "There's a lot of camaraderie in the growing dahlia community. (ABC Southern Qld: Peter Gunders)

"The big thing is their geometric perfection," he said .

"They are t very bright. There is a shine to the dahlias that really shows in the photos. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a flower more suitable for social media.

"They don't have a scent, but you can't smell through a photo so c this is where the dahlias beat the roses."

Dahlias have become a regular sight on social media. (Provided by Christina Lowry)

And it was thanks to the photos that a new generation discovered the flower.

The recent Toowoomba Dahlia Show had a record number of young grower signups.

"You got them as small as a golf ball and then as big as a dinner plate.