Café au Lait dahlia
Dahlia 'Café au Lait'. Family Asteraceae. Perennial.
Also called Dinnerplate dahlia.
Café au Lait is a frost-tender, tuberous perennial grown for its large, fully double flowers in changing shades of cream, blush pink and pale peach. It makes a substantial border plant and cut flower, but needs staking; in cold climates, lift and store the tubers over winter or grow it as an annual.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun, ideally at least 6 hours daily; light afternoon shade helps in very hot climates. Shelter from strong winds.
- Water
- Water deeply when the upper soil begins to dry, keeping established plants evenly moist but never waterlogged. Newly planted tubers need little water until shoots appear unless the soil is dry.
- Soil
- Fertile, well-drained soil enriched with compost; avoid sites that stay wet in winter.
- Height
- 3-5 ft (0.9-1.5 m)
- Spread
- 1.5-2 ft (0.45-0.6 m)
- Flowers
- Midsummer until the first autumn frost; fully double flowers, often 8-10 in (20-25 cm) across, in cream, blush pink and pale peach. Colour varies with conditions and flower age.
- Foliage
- Green, divided leaves with toothed leaflets on upright, branching stems; foliage dies back with frost.
- Growth
- Fast during the growing season.
- Care needed
- High
The year at a glance
- Low allergen
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Toughness
- Needs looking after
Will it suit your garden?
Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.
Full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sun a day, part shade 3 to 6 hours, shade under 3.
How it grows
Planting day
1 ft (0.3 m)
After 1 year
2.5 ft (0.76 m)
After 2 years
4 ft (1.2 m)
full size
About 2 years to full size.
From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.
Good to know
- Cats and dogs
- Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach
- Growth rate
- Fast
Care
Jobs through the year
- WaterMay–Jun, every 7 days
- Water established leafy plants as soil dries; newly planted dormant tubers need little water.
- WaterJul–Aug, every 4 days
- Water established plants deeply in dry weather, keeping flowers and foliage dry.
- WaterSep–Oct, every 7 days
- Maintain moisture while growth is active; stop after frost kills the foliage.
- ProtectMay–Jun
- Install stout stakes at planting and protect emerging shoots from slugs.
- ProtectJun–Oct, every 7 days
- Tie stems loosely to stakes and support branches carrying heavy flowers.
- PruneJun
- Pinch out the growing tip when plants reach 30–40 cm.
- MulchJun
- Mulch moist soil around established plants, leaving stems clear.
- FeedJun–Aug, every 28 days
- Apply a flowering-plant fertiliser at the label rate without excessive nitrogen.
- DeadheadJul–Oct, every 7 days
- Remove spent flowers back to a strong pair of leaves.
- PruneOct–Nov
- Cut down frost-blackened stems before lifting tubers.
- ProtectOct–Nov
- Lift after the first killing frost and store frost-free in barely moist packing material.
- ProtectJan–Apr, Dec, every 30 days
- Check stored tubers, removing rotten pieces and preventing severe shrivelling.
- Plant after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed, covering the tuber crown with about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) of soil.
- Install stout stakes at planting and tie stems loosely as they lengthen.
- Water at soil level during dry spells; avoid repeatedly wetting the flowers.
- Apply a balanced flowering-plant fertiliser according to its label once growth is established; avoid excessive nitrogen.
- Mulch established plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the stems.
- Lift tubers where winters are freezing or wet; store frost-free in barely moist packing material and check regularly for rot.
Pruning. Pinch out the growing tip when plants are about 12-16 in (30-40 cm) tall to encourage branching. Remove spent flowers back to a strong pair of leaves, and cut down frost-blackened stems before lifting or winter protection.
Through the year
- Early spring
- Check stored tubers and discard rotten material; pot up sound tubers under cover if you want an earlier start.
- Late spring
- After the last frost, harden off started plants or plant dormant tubers into warm soil; install stakes.
- Early summer
- Pinch young shoots, begin feeding and tie new growth to supports.
- Summer
- Water deeply during dry weather, renew ties and remove faded flowers.
- Early autumn
- Keep cutting flowers and deadheading while growth remains active.
- Late autumn
- After frost blackens the foliage, lift tubers in cold or winter-wet areas; in mild, well-drained sites, cut back and protect with a thick mulch.
- Winter
- Inspect stored tubers monthly, removing rotting pieces and preventing severe shrivelling.
In the garden
- Place in the middle or back of a sunny border, with lower plants concealing the stakes and bare lower stems.
- Combine with airy grasses and verbena to contrast its large, dense flower heads.
- Use with pale roses, white cosmos and blue catmint in a soft-coloured cottage border.
- Grow in a dedicated cutting bed where you can reach stems easily and provide sturdy supports.
Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Romantic rose garden, English country, Pastel border, Potager (kitchen garden) and Traditional.
Plant it with: Tall verbena, Cosmos, Catmint, Salvia, Roses and Feather reed grass.
Wildlife: The densely packed petals offer much less accessible pollen and nectar than single-flowered dahlias. Pair it with open flowers if supporting pollinators is a priority.
Problems to watch for
- Slugs and snails eat emerging shoots: check young plants after dark, remove pests and use labelled iron-phosphate bait where needed.
- Earwigs chew petals: inspect flowers and empty upturned pots loosely filled with straw, used as daytime traps.
- Powdery mildew coats leaves in dry, crowded conditions: improve spacing, water the root zone consistently and remove badly affected foliage.
- Tuber rot causes soft, collapsing growth or winter losses: improve drainage, avoid overwatering dormant tubers and discard rotten stored material.
Safety
Dahlias are mildly toxic to cats and dogs; chewing plant parts can cause stomach upset, and sap contact can cause mild dermatitis. They are not known to be toxic to horses or people, though sap may irritate sensitive skin. Do not eat ornamental plants treated with garden chemicals.
Easily confused with
Café au Lait Royal dahlia (Dahlia 'Café au Lait Royal')
Has similar large, double flowers but generally stronger pink to lilac colouring, often with darker streaks. Ordinary Café au Lait is usually paler, although its colour varies considerably.
The name
The French cultivar name means 'coffee with milk', referring to the flowers' creamy, coffee-tinted colouring.
Propagation. Divide tuber clumps in spring, giving each division at least one visible eye on a piece of crown attached to a sound tuber. Basal cuttings taken from young spring shoots also preserve the cultivar; seed will not reliably produce Café au Lait plants.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Dahlia
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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