DINNER PLATE DAHLIAS AND STATE FAIR ZINNIAS -- BEAUTIFUL COLORS FOR COMPLIMENTARY FALL ARRANGEMENTS

I love pairing dinner plate dahlias with State Fair zinnias. Both have huge blooms, and compliment each other well in arrangements.

This arrangement has creamy white and bright golden yellow State Fair zinnias. The zinnias have a variety of blooms--from single to fully double. Pictured is a creamy white bloom measuring 6" across, with layer after layer of petals. Gorgeous! There are also singles and semi-double ones in the bouquet.The bright golden color adds to the arrangement; complimentary colors always provide drama to the bouquet.

The more stems you cut of both of these plants, the more they will bloom. Their large, colorful blooms will continue through the summer and fall, until a killing frost in the fall--usually November here in zone 6.

Working with these glorious blooms is always a pleasure. I'm always anxious to go out and decide which will be used that day for a new arrangement. Because of the heavy bloom this year, I have used them widely in the weekly arrangements.

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.