Arranging dahlias in a grid with amaranth, dill and panicum sparking fountain

Arranging Dahlias in a Grid with Amaranth, Dill and Panicum 'Sparkling Fountain'

I'm using a scallop-edged pot for this arrangement because they flare out and create movement and flow within your arrangement. Within this, I'm placing a plastic tub which I will fill with water, and I've stuck a frog pin to the bottom of it to hold my flowers in place.

Over this, I've laid one of my bamboo grids which will help to further secure the stems I use.

Arranging with the Soft and Warm Colour Palette

I've chosen the soft and warm palette for this arrangement but with a few gatecrashers from the dark and rich. Dahlias are the star of the show here, but they're backed up by flowing foliage plants such as Amaranth 'Coral Fountain'. If you remove the leaves from the amaranth it will last between 10 days and two weeks in a vase.

In this arrangement, I will be using:

• Dahlia 'Molly Raven'
• Dahlia 'Lou Farman'
• Dahlia 'Labyrinth'
• Amaranth 'Coral fountain'
• Anethum graveolens
• Panicum 'Sparkling Fountain'
• Setaria viridis

Creating Structure with the Amaranth

I'm using amaranth as my first foliage plant to create the structure of the arrangement. As amaranth are quite top-heavy, using the grid here is a great way of supporting them and ensuring that they don't topple over.

I've seared the stems of the amaranth too, so make sure you don't remove too much of this seared end as you are arranging them.

Adding Flowers to the Arrangement

Dahlia 'Molly Raven' is the bride flower in this arrangement, so I'm adding her in first so the other flowers can float around her.

The bridesmaid in this case is Dahlia 'Lou Farman'. Slot these flowers into the grid around 'Molly Raven' but remember to think about putting flowers in zones too, so that there are groups of blooms in some areas that will stop the overall effect from looking too fussy.

Don't forget to think about the back of the arrangement either. Considering the back will stop it from looking two-dimensional.

Adding the Gatecrasher

Dahlia 'Labyrinth' is the gatecrasher in this arrangement, but I'm using them sparingly as they are such big, showy blooms.

Create a zone with these blooms towards the back of the arrangement and they will provide a bit of height too.

Don't worry about using your frog pin all the time, sometimes I am tucking them into the pin and sometimes they are simply slotting into the grid.

Make sure you view your arrangement from all angles and change the position of the flowers if needed.

Adding the Other Foliage

For the second foliage, I'm using dill, which has self-seeded in the garden. This adds a splash of acid-green contrast to the arrangement, which cuts through the quite heavy reds and pinks.

For the third foliage, I'm using the grass Panicum 'Sparkling Fountain', which unusually for a grass is actually cut-and-come-again. It's such a light plant that it can simply be dotted throughout your display to give it great movement and provide some lightness.

Use any remaining stems to slot into the front of the arrangement and remove any signs of the plastic tub within.

Adding Substance to the Silhouette of the Arrangement

For my final foliage, I'm going to add the grass Setaria viridis, which is a very light grass but will add height and interest to your arrangement.