Cafe Au Lait Dahlia is a stunning dinner-plate type cultivar that delivers blooms in creamy, blushed ivory tones with hints of peach-pink, creating flowers that genuinely stop you in your tracks. Growing 36 to 48 inches tall in full sun, this variety reaches peak bloom 80 to 100 days after planting and thrives in hardiness zone 8. It's highly sought after by cut flower growers and gardeners who want a dahlia that delivers consistent, restaurant-worthy blooms from summer through fall.
18
Full Sun
Moderate
8-8
48in H x ?in W
—
High
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The real draw here is the variability within consistency. On a single plant, some blooms hit those perfect cafe-au-lait notes of toasted cream and tan, while others lean rosier or shift toward peach-pink overtones. Earlier blooms tend toward the paler, creamier palette that gave this variety its name. This unpredictability isn't a flaw; it's part of the charm, giving you a bouquet with genuine depth and dimension rather than monotone perfection.
This dahlia is grown exclusively for its flowers. The massive, dinner-plate blooms are exceptional for cutting and arranging, holding their form and color remarkably well in the vase. Gardeners cultivate it for fresh bouquets, wedding florals, and display beds where its height and continuous bloom cycle create drama from midsummer into fall.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant after all frost danger has passed in spring and soil has warmed. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting.
Cut flowers in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Choose blooms that have just opened but still feel firm to the touch; they'll continue to open fully in the vase. Cut at an angle with a sharp knife, and immediately place stems in cool water. Cafe Au Lait dahlias have excellent vase life, typically lasting 7 to 10 days with regular water changes.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to keep the plant flowering prolifically throughout the season. Pinching back the central growing tip when plants are young encourages a bushier, more upright form with more blooming branches.
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