What’s a Dinnerplate Dahlia?
I knew I needed to write a post about large dahlia flowers when friends kept asking me for my ‘dinnerplate’ varieties. Dinnerplate dahlias is more of a marketing term coined by the big box stores. It’s really more of a clever marketing term than a classification, but for the sake of defining them we’ll say they are dahlias with large, showy blooms over 8 inches in diameter. The ADS (American Dahlia Society) does not recognize the term “Dinnerplate” dahlia, but I use it as a way to avoid shopping imported tubers (Don’t even get me started on websites that sell dahlia ‘bulbs’).
Dinnerplate dahlia, Fleurel.
Modeled by Aldo. For scale, of course.
I honestly don’t grow enough of the large dahlia flowers. They produce fewer blooms due to the massive amount of energy required to make such large flowers. The blooms you do get are the size of your head, though. They are not the greatest for cutting, with highly variable vase life. When I do cut one, I display its magnificence in a vase solo.
Large flowered dahlias are great for shows. Whether it’s the county fair, or your local dahlia society’s show, there is usually an award for the biggest bloom. Maki is the largest I’ve read about (14” blooms). The largest I’ve grown is Vera Seyfang. She’s wonderful in many ways: 12” + blooms, an heirloom, and she’s got these adorable little ‘petaloids’ within each petal that really add depth/texture.
Vera Seyfang, an heirloom with impressive 12” dinnerplate blooms.
A large flowered dahlia that I do grow for cutting is Fleurel. It’s a great event flower with its white color. Fleurel’s 8” + blooms are often used in weddings. I have used it as a statement bloom-it really steals the show.
Dinnerplate dahlia “Fleurel”
Another dinnerplate dahlia is Otto’s Thrill. Otto’s Thrill is shorter and also an heirloom dahlia. It’s great for your landscape, and the short stature make the 10” blooms look even more impressive. It has a great pink color and reminds me of bubblegum.
Large-flowered dahlias can be found in the “A” and “AA” size groups for the ADS. “AA” will be the largest, considered the GIANTS of the dahlia world. These “Dinnerplate” dahlias as so many call them, are a statement you can add to your garden to really turn up the WOW factor. Their impressive size will have everyone asking, “Are those real?!” Plan to plant some large dahlia tubers in your own garden and stop some neighbors in their tracks.