Issue date: March 2, 2020

In what has become a much-anticipated postal tradition, Canada Post welcomes spring with its annual flower issue – this year, featuring brightly coloured dahlias – just in time for the wedding season and other bloom-worthy celebrations.

Dahlias can be found in almost every colour of the rainbow, except blue. Said to symbolize honesty, balance, inner strength, creativity, positive change and kindness, they have more recently come to be associated with diversity because of the seamless way their many petals form a single, dazzling blossom.

According to Carolyn Cutt, President of the Hamilton & District Chrysanthemum & Dahlia Society, “Canadian gardeners enjoy dahlias for their long-blooming, show-stopping appeal, and because they provide a nectar source for pollinators until winter.”

The fact that Victorian couples gave each other dahlias as a symbol of commitment may be a reason they’re still such a popular choice for wedding floral arrangements.