Giant blooms taking centre stage from midsummer onwards
Dinnerplate dahlias
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Dinnerplate dahlias
Dahlia varieties known as dinnerplate dahlias are grown for scale. Their flowers can reach an impressive size, often with layer upon layer of petals building into broad, full blooms from midsummer into autumn. These large-flowered dahlias bring weight and presence to borders without needing a dense planting scheme, and they work particularly well where a few carefully placed plants can become part of the structure of the summer garden.
Plant dinnerplate dahlia tubers in spring once the risk of frost has passed, choosing a sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil. As the stems gain height, staking or support is useful, particularly for the heaviest flower heads and in more exposed UK gardens. Regular deadheading helps keep new buds coming, while cutting flowers for the vase encourages the plants to continue producing. Their long stems and generous blooms also make these giant dahlias a natural choice for cut flower gardens.
The display gathers pace as summer moves on. Early growth builds a strong framework, then the first buds open and the plants continue flowering until the first frosts arrive. Use dinnerplate dahlias among grasses and looser perennials to balance their larger flower form, or grow them in dedicated groups where each bloom has space to be noticed. Lift and store the tubers frost free over winter in colder areas, then plant again the following spring for another season of substantial late-summer flower.
