Dhalia

Dhalia is a term with multiple uses in English. It is most commonly encountered as an alternative spelling of the feminine given name Dahlia, and it can also be a misspelling or variant transcription of the flowering plant name Dahlia. The association with the flower is the most widespread, and many people choose the name inspired by the bloom.

The dahlia plant belongs to the Asteraceae family and is native to Mexico and Central America. The genus was named in honor of the Swedish botanist Anders Dahl by the Spanish botanist Antonio José Cavanilles in 1791. Dahlias are cultivated as ornamental plants around the world and have many cultivars that vary greatly in size, form, and color. They are tuberous perennials with blooms that typically appear from mid to late summer into autumn. Flower shapes range from decorative and pompon to cactus and waterlily forms, with colors including white, yellow, orange, pink, red, and purple. In some regions, tree dahlia (Dahlia imperialis) varieties can grow several meters tall.

As a given name, Dhalia is used in various cultures as a variant spelling of Dahlia, with other spellings such as Dahlia, Dalhia, or Dalia appearing in different countries. The choice of spelling often reflects personal preference or linguistic traditions, and the name typically carries associations with the flower’s beauty and vitality.

See also: Dahlia (plant); Dahlia (name).