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Bulb
Asteraceae
Giant Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ (Dahlia)
Dahlia × pinnata ‘Café au Lait’
Café au Lait Dahlia (Dahlia × pinnata ‘Café au Lait’) produces enormous cream blooms with delicate blush-beige tones and softly ruffled petals. This elegant variety flowers abundantly from midsummer until the first frost.
- Quantity
- 1 tuber
- Exposure
- Full sun. Bright sunlight promotes abundant flowering and strong, sturdy stems.
- Life cycle
- Perennial
- Hardiness
- Zone 10
Discover the plant
Common nameCafé au Lait Dahlia
FamilyAsteraceae
GenusDahlia
TypeBulb
Botanical nameDahlia × pinnata ‘Café au Lait’
Reproducible seedsYes
Café au Lait Dahlia (Dahlia × pinnata ‘Café au Lait’) is admired for its enormous decorative blooms in soft shades of cream and blush beige, with subtle colour variations that shift depending on the light. Broad, gently ruffled petals create a full, airy, and refined silhouette that stands out beautifully against dark green foliage. Blooming from July until the first frost, this variety reaches approximately 110 cm (43 in) tall and quickly becomes the focal point of summer landscapes. Not hardy in Canada, this tuberous perennial is typically grown as an annual, although the tuber can be lifted in autumn and stored indoors over winter.
Plant the tuber in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has thoroughly warmed, approximately 10 cm (4 in) deep. Choose a location in full sun with rich, loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil, spacing plants about 50 cm (20 in) apart. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist without allowing it to become waterlogged. Apply a fertilizer high in potassium every two to three weeks throughout the growing season. Pinch young shoots to encourage branching and install a sturdy stake at planting time to support the large blooms. In autumn, lift the tuber before hard frost and store it in a cool, dry, frost-free location until spring.
Café au Lait Dahlia is perfect for large garden beds, sunny borders, generous containers, and cut flower gardens. Its soft cream and blush-beige tones pair beautifully with baby’s breath, cosmos, salvias, pastel perennials, and ornamental grasses to create romantic, elegant displays. Its enormous blooms have excellent vase life and are especially prized for wedding bouquets and premium floral arrangements. When fully open, the flowers also attract bees, butterflies, and many other pollinating insects throughout the season.
Planting guide
Plant well.Grow beautifully.
Planting depth
10 cm (4 in)
Best planting time
Spring
Propagation
Divide the tubers in spring, ensuring each division has at least one viable growing eye. This preserves the characteristics of the cultivar.
Growing method
Plant the tubers in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has thoroughly warmed. Plant approximately 10 cm (4 in) deep, spacing tubers about 50 cm (20 in) apart in rich, loose, well-drained soil. Choose a location in full sun for abundant flowering. Water regularly without waterlogging the soil and fertilize throughout the growing season. Install a sturdy stake at planting time to support the enormous blooms, and pinch young shoots to encourage branching. Lift the tubers before the first hard frost and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free location over winter.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Minimum temperature
5°C (41°F)
Care level
Intermediate
Watering
Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist without overwatering. Reduce watering before lifting the tubers in autumn.
Soil type
Rich, loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil that remains evenly moist without becoming waterlogged. Avoid heavy, poorly drained soils.
Fertilization
Apply a fertilizer high in potassium every two to three weeks during active growth. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages foliage rather than flowers.
Seasonal care
Install sturdy stakes at planting time to support the heavy flower stems. Remove spent blooms regularly to prolong flowering. Water deeply during hot weather without overwatering. Lift the tubers before the first hard frost and store them in a cool, dry location over winter.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Recommended pot size
45 to 50 cm (18 to 20 in)
Container gardening requires anticipating the necessary volume for the roots and the plant's final height. Choose a stable pot with drainage holes and a substrate suitable for planting. Leave enough space to respect the recommended depth and spacing, rather than crowding plants to fill the pot immediately. Place the container in the indicated exposure and regularly check the moisture level, especially in hot or windy weather. A pot is more exposed to temperature variations than a plant in the ground. Therefore, from the outset, plan a wintering location compatible with the plant's needs and your region's climate. Plant in spring when all risk of frost has passed and the soil is sufficiently warmed. Choose a sunny spot, sheltered from strong winds, in fertile and well-drained soil. Arrange the tuberous roots with their crown and buds facing upwards, without breaking the fragile attachments. Install a stake at planting if support will be necessary, to avoid damaging the roots later. Water sparingly at the start, then adjust watering to the foliage growth. Constantly waterlogged soil around the tubers should be avoided, especially before the appearance of the first shoots. Plan to bring storage organs indoors, away from frost, for the Quebec winter.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
110 cm (44 in)
Width / spread
50 cm (20 in)
Flower color
Cream and blush beige
Foliage color
Dark green
Foliage type
Deciduous
Growth rate
Fast
Bloom period
Enormous decorative blooms feature broad cream petals with blush-beige tones and gently ruffled edges, creating the soft, cloud-like appearance that has made this variety famous. With regular deadheading, flowering continues until the first frost.
Harvest
July to October. Harvest flowers when fully open for the longest vase life.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Pairs beautifully with baby's breath, cosmos, ornamental grasses, salvias, and pastel perennials to create romantic garden displays.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should Café au Lait Dahlia tubers be planted?
Plant the tubers in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has thoroughly warmed. Planting in cold soil slows development. Choose a sunny location for the best results.
Is Café au Lait Dahlia a good cut flower?
Yes. Its enormous decorative blooms have exceptional vase life and are especially prized for wedding bouquets and premium floral arrangements.
Does Café au Lait Dahlia need staking?
Yes. The large flowers are heavy, so sturdy stakes help prevent stems from bending or breaking in wind and heavy rain.
Should the tubers be lifted for winter in Canada?
Yes. The tubers are not hardy in most Canadian climates. Lift them after the first light frost and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free location until spring.
Does Café au Lait Dahlia attract pollinators?
Yes. Its blooms attract bees, butterflies, and many other pollinating insects throughout the growing season when fully open.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Bees, butterflies, and pollinators
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