Cafe Au Lait

Café au Lait is one of the world’s most coveted dahlias, adored for its enormous dinnerplate blooms and beautifully nuanced colouring.

Key Characteristics

• Type: Dinner plate dahlia

• Colors: creamy blush, pale peach/pink and warm café tones. No two blooms are ever quite the same, adding to its gorgeous charm.

• Height: 1–1.5 meters; requires support.

• Flower size: 20-30cm

• Flowering Time: summer through late autumn.

• Days to Maturity: 80–100 days

• Aspect: full sun

• Soil: Well draining moist soil

Growing Details

• Planting: Plant in spring (or early summer) after the risk of frost has passed.

• Plant Spacing: 30–45cm

• Pinch: When plants reach 30cm tall

• Maintenance: Prolific bloomer that benefits from continuous deadheading.

Harvesting and Vase Life

Harvest: Cut blooms when they are 3/4 open, while petals are still firm at back of flower head.

Vase Life: 5-7 days. For best results, place stems immediately into water with hydrator, or sear the stems in boiling water for approximately 10 seconds.

Dahlias do not continue opening significantly once cut, so timing is important.