How to Grow Dinner Party
Wikimedia Commons
Dinner Party
Dahlia × hybrida 'Dinner Party'
flowerDinner Party is a stunning decorative dahlia cultivar known for its large, fully double blooms in rich burgundy to deep purple tones with layered petals. This exhibition-quality dahlia produces flowers that are perfect for cut arrangements and garden displays, typically reaching 4-5 inches in diameter. It's a favorite among florists and dahlia enthusiasts for its long vase life and dramatic color.
When should you plant Dinner Party in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Dinner Party timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Dinner Party
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
First Dinner Party blooms
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Dinner Party dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-9; grown as annual in cooler zones or with winter tuber storage
Sign up free to see if Dinner Party grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Dinner Party timeline →Growth Stages
Tuber Dormancy & Sprouting
2-4 weeks after plantingDahlia tubers are stored over winter or planted directly in spring soil; eyes (growth buds) begin to swell and sprout
Store tubers in cool (50-60°F), dry location over winter; plant after last frost when soil reaches 60°F; water sparingly until shoots emerge
Vegetative Growth
3-5 weeksShoots emerge and develop into bushy plants with dark green, compound leaves; stems elongate and branch
Pinch out the central growing tip when plant reaches 12-18 inches to encourage branching and bushier shape; provide sturdy stakes or cages for support; fertilize with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksTerminal buds form at stem tips; flower buds cluster and develop color as the variety's deep burgundy hue becomes visible
Continue staking and gentle tying as plant grows; reduce nitrogen and increase phosphorus/potassium for better blooming; deadhead spent flowers immediately to encourage more blooms
Flowering & Blooming
8-12 weeks until first frostFully double decorative flowers open with many layered petals in rich burgundy-purple; blooms are 4-5 inches across and extremely showy
Cut flowers in early morning or late evening; cut at a 45° angle and condition in cool water for 2+ hours; continue deadheading to prolong blooming; water at soil level to keep foliage dry
Frost & Dormancy Preparation
Until next spring plantingFlowering slows and stops after first frost; foliage blackens and dies back; tubers underground enter dormancy
After first frost, cut back stems to 4-6 inches; dig tubers carefully; allow to air-dry for 1-2 weeks; store in cool, dry location for winter; or harvest tubers and divide for propagation
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick in early morning; use pheromone traps away from plants; apply neem oil or spinosad; encourage parasitic wasps
-
Increase humidity with regular misting; spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; ensure good air circulation
-
Remove affected buds and flowers; use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap or spinosad; avoid excess nitrogen
-
and
Remove by hand, especially at night; use copper barriers around plants; apply food-grade diatomaceous earth; set beer traps
-
Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
-
Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate spray; remove affected leaves
Uses
Edible Flowers (Garnish)
CulinaryDahlia petals are edible and are sometimes used as decorative garnishes for desserts and upscale culinary presentations. The petals have a slightly sweet, subtle flavor and add visual drama to plates. [source]
Cut Flowers & Floristry
CraftDinner Party is prized by florists and flower arrangers for its exceptional vase life, large dramatic blooms, and deep rich color. These flowers are ideal for wedding arrangements, event designs, and high-end floral compositions. [source]
Garden Display & Landscaping
HouseholdThe striking burgundy-purple flowers and vigorous plant habit make Dinner Party an excellent focal point in mixed borders, dahlia gardens, and ornamental landscapes. Its long blooming season extends garden color from summer through fall. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeDahlias attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects throughout their long flowering season, providing essential nectar and pollen sources during late summer and fall. [source]
Traditional Herbal Use
MedicinalIn traditional medicine, dahlia tubers have been used in some cultures to support digestion and metabolic health, though scientific evidence is limited. The ornamental varieties are primarily valued for beauty rather than medicinal application. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers early in the morning or late evening when stems are fully hydrated; use sharp, clean pruners; cut at a 45° angle just above a leaf node; remove lower leaves below the water line; condition in cool water for 2+ hours before arranging; recut stems every 3-4 days; change water every 2 days for optimal vase life (7-14 days typical). For tuber harvest after frost, dig carefully with a spading fork; allow to air-dry in a cool location for 1-2 weeks; store in peat moss or sand at 50-60°F.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Dahlias are native to Mexico and were cultivated by the Aztecs, who called them 'acocotli'; they're the national flower of Mexico and one of the most diverse flowers in cultivation with thousands of registered varieties.
- 🌱 Dinner Party and similar decorative dahlias can produce 50-100 blooms per plant in a single season with proper care, deadheading, and pinching techniques.
- 🌱 Dahlia tubers are rhizomatous and can be divided and propagated; a single tuber can multiply into 5-10+ new plants by the end of the growing season, making them economical for gardeners to expand their collections.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Dinner Party planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Dinner Party seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Dinner Party timeline →