'Sam Hopkins Dahlia (Decorative or Semi-Dinnerplate)

'Sam Hopkins' deep maroon tones will entrance you. Many folks think they look similar to Karma Choc but Sam Hopkins has green leaves versus the burgundy leaves Sam Hopkins has. 

We provide them in clumps the majority of the time. Sometimes they will be stand alone with necks and eyes depending on the season’s harvest.  

Semi-Dinnerplate Dahlias are awesome additions to any garden. They provide structure and color to any garden with minimal effort. They do rather well in the back of your beds because of their size or even in stand-alone rows. They reward gardeners with an abundance of blooms starting in mid to late summer through frost.  Typically they are not bothered by diseases and have attractive foliage until frost. 

Characteristics

• 40-50" tall
• Blooms are 6-8” wide
• USDA Zones 8-10 (Hardy in these zones, lift and store in winter in other zones)
• Summer to Fall
• Bloom Duration: Continuous Blooms through frost starting in mid to late summer
• Full Sun

Additional Information

• Great for Specimen, Mass Plantings, Borders, and Cutting Gardens.
• Great for butterflies and other pollinators
• Ships starting in mid to late March (weather dependent)

Key Planting Tips

Plant in full sun with tuber 6-7” deep with the crown 1-2” below the soil.  Space Decorative dahlias about 3’ apart from any neighbor. Plant when the soil is 60 degrees, well past any frost danger.

Dahlias love soil that is close to neutral and do ok in slightly acidic or slightly alkaline. You can amend soil with 10-10-10 or something similar. Just make sure the first number (nitrogen) is 5 or 10. You can fertilize every 4 weeks to help achieve large blossoms.

Don’t water until the Dahlia sprouts. If your soil is very dry, water the soil first and then let it stand for 30 minutes before planting. Mulch around your plant leaving bare dirt directly above the tuber. You will see sprouts in 7-10 days.