Dinner plate dahlias are showy, easy-to-grow flowers that add drama and color to summer and fall arrangements. This end-of-August arrangement was at the starting of the peak season for the huge blooms.
Pictured here are sunny, huge "Kelvin Floodlight" dinner plate dahlias. They can be as much as 11" across. This particular variety is especially prolific, having tons of blooms on a single plant all through the summer and into the fall.
Rosy purple "Thomas Edison" has lovely blooms measuring 9" across, and is another heavy bloomer. The more you cut, the more they bloom. I use them in arrangements all through late summer and into fall.
Cut when centers are still solid for best results. Some people smash the stem ends with a hammer, or even sear the stems with a match. I really haven't noticed this helps with longevity in the arrangement. I cut early in the morning,or at dusk. If cutting at dusk, place in luke warm water overnight, then cut off an extra inch, on the diagonal, to arrange.
As always, keep out of direct sunlight and drafts when displaying your arrangement, and use a floral preservative in the water.
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