DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS -- THE MORE YOU CUT, THE MORE THEY BLOOM

Beautiful dinner plate dahlia blooms of "Kidds Climax" and "Kelvin Floodlight" make a pleasing arrangement for the end of August. Kidds Climax, with its rosy raspberry bloom, is always perfect--and goes well with a myriad of other flowers. Paired with it, Kelvin Floodlight highlights the yellow at the center of the petals of Kidds Climax.

I love growing and arranging these majestic flowers. Even a single dahlia in a vase takes your breath away. Multiple blooms are a site to behold--lots of stares and comments because of their size and beauty. I highly recommend these beautiful flowers. In my zone, the tubers need to be lifted after the first killing frost. The tubers can then be stored until spring, to be planted out when all danger of frost has passed. Dinner plate dahlias are late bloomers, taking about 3 months from planting to harvesting, but well worth the wait.

DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS -- COMPLIMENTARY COLORS ADD DRAMA TO ARRANGEMENTS

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.

Late summer bouquets using Dinner Plate Dahlias

Yellow 10" Kelvin Floodlight and white 8" Fleurel Dinner Plate Dahlias paired with bright blue delphinium in a blue vase makes a nice late summer display.  Cut blooms at dusk or early morning when centers are still tight. The stem ends can be seared with a match or, some recommend crushing them with a hammer to extend their vase life. Plunge immediately in water with a floral preservative and keep out of bright sunlight or drafts.