Dahlia Dinner Plate – Kelvin’s Floodlight

Dahlia ‘Kelvin Floodlight’ is a classic dinnerplate variety known for its enormous, golden-yellow blooms — often reaching up to 25 cm across! These showstopping flowers bring bold, radiant colour to the garden and make an unforgettable focal point in arrangements. A must-have for any dahlia lover looking to brighten up the border with dramatic flair.

• Tuber Count: 1 Clump

• Plant Height: 100–120 cm

• Plant Type: Tender perennial

• Light Requirement: Full Sun

• Blooms: Summer to First Frost

• Plant Spacing: 45 cm

• Plant Staking: Yes, essential due to large bloom size and height

Dahlias are shipped as single tubers with a minimum of one eye guaranteed. If you’re not ready to plant upon arrival, store tubers in a cool, dry, dark place until planting time.

🌱 Planting Information:

Plant dahlias after the last spring frost, once soil temperatures reach 15°C. Choose a rich, well-drained flower bed or planter. Loosen the soil to a depth of 30 cm and enrich with compost and all-purpose granular fertiliser.

Plant the tuber with the eye or sprout facing upwards, positioning the top of the tuber 8 cm below the soil surface. Fill in around the tuber, press the soil down firmly, and water well to eliminate air pockets. Ensure containers have sufficient drainage.

🌿 Tips for Growing Dahlias:

• Avoid overwatering newly planted tubers — this can cause rot. Water once at planting, then wait until shoots appear before watering again.

• Water at the base and keep foliage dry to minimise disease. Deep water once or twice a week, allowing the top 2.5 cm of soil to dry out between waterings.

• Feed with organic, water-soluble fertiliser every 3–4 weeks until March. Stop fertilising thereafter to encourage better tuber overwintering.

• Deadhead regularly to prolong flowering. Snip just above a leaf node using clean garden scissors.

• Cutting long stems for arrangements encourages bushier growth and more blooms.

• Dahlias do not reliably grow from seed — preserve and multiply your favourite varieties by caring for your tubers.

• In most parts of South Africa, tubers can remain in the ground over winter and will resprout the following spring. In colder areas, lift and store after the first frost.