A Guide to Growing Gorgeous Dinner Plate Dahlias

With blooms up to 12 inches wide, dinner plate dahlias make a dramatic statement in any garden. Getting these tender perennials to reach their full potential requires some specific care strategies. Follow this guide to successfully grow your own impressive dinner plate dahlias.

What Makes Dinner Plate Dahlias Special

The term “dinner plate” refers to any dahlia variety producing extra-large flowers at least 8 inches wide. While regular dahlias have lovely blooms dinner plates take it to the next level.

Some key traits of dinner plate dahlias

• Huge. show-stopping flowerheads up to 12 inches wide

• Come in a wide range of colors like red, yellow, purple, pink, white

• Tall plants growing up to 5-6 feet in ideal conditions

• Long blooming from midsummer until fall frosts

• Add bold, vibrant color for bouquets and flower beds

• Require fertile soil and consistent moisture

• Need staking support due to height and heavy blooms

Caring for Dinner Plate Dahlias

While caring for dinner plate dahlias is similar to other dahlias, their size means paying extra attention in some areas:

Sunshine and Soil

• Require full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day

• Thrive in nutrient-rich, well-draining soil amended with compost

• Avoid soggy, dense clay soils that can cause tubers to rot

Water and Fertilizer

• Need consistent moisture, about 1-2 inches per week

• Drought-stressed plants produce smaller, fewer blooms

• Fertilize monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer to fuel big blooms

• Reduce fertilizer at end of season to focus energy on the tubers

Staking and Pruning

• Stake plants when 1 foot tall to support mature height and heavy blooms

• Pinch out the central stem to encourage bushier growth

• Remove smaller side buds to allow the central flower to reach full size

• Deadhead spent blooms to prolong bloom period

Growing Dinner Plate Dahlias

Follow these tips for successfully growing dinner plate dahlias:

• Start tubers indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost, then transplant outside after danger of frost passes.

• Give them plenty of space in the garden – at least 2 feet between plants.

• Plant in raised beds like a vegetable garden since they need excellent drainage.

• Apply a balanced fertilizer at planting to give tubers a nutrient boost.

• Mulch around plants to retain moisture and reduce weeds.

• Check plants daily once buds start to open and pick blooms for bouquets.

• In cold climates, dig up and store tubers over winter once foliage blackens after frost.

• Replant the divided tubers the following spring.

Top Dinner Plate Varieties to Try

Popular dinner plate dahlia options include:

• ‘Cafe au Lait’ – Creamy peach double blooms up to 10 inches wide

• ‘American Dream’ – Pink and raspberry striped double flowers to 11 inches wide

• ‘Emory Paul’ – Huge lavender double blooms reaching a whopping 14 inches across

• ‘Tartan’ – Bicolor red and white blooms with twisted, quilled petals

• ‘Penhill Dark Monarch’ – Purple-black shaggy, fully double blooms to 10 inches wide

Go big or go home! Dinner plate dahlias are sure to steal the show and stop visitors in their tracks. With proper care, you can grow these dramatic beauties too.