How to Grow Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait'
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Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait'
Dahlia × hybrida 'Café au Lait'
flowerCafé au Lait is a stunning dinnerplate dahlia producing massive, fully double flowers in a soft peachy-blush pink color that deepens toward the center. These exhibition-quality blooms can reach 6-8 inches in diameter and are prized by florists and gardeners for their romantic, cottage garden appeal. The plant grows 4-5 feet tall with sturdy, branching stems ideal for cutting.
When should you plant Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait' in your zone?
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Example Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait'
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait' blooms
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Dinnerplate Dahlia 'Café au Lait' dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 8-10; can be grown in zone 7 with winter protection
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Tuber Sprouting
2-3 weeksPlanted tubers develop eyes and send up initial shoots from the soil
Keep soil warm (60°F+) and consistently moist. Plant after last frost when soil warms. Support emerging shoots if exposed to wind.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops multiple stems, leaves, and a strong branching structure; no blooms yet
Pinch out the top 2-3 sets of leaves when plant reaches 12 inches tall to encourage bushy growth and more bloom branches. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Install sturdy stakes or cages early.
Bud Formation
2-3 weeksTerminal bud clusters appear at stem tips; visible flower buds form and enlarge
For exhibition-sized blooms, remove side buds, leaving only the central terminal bud per stem. Switch to lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorus fertilizer to promote flowering. Continue staking and tying stems.
Blooming
8-12 weeks (until frost)Large, fully double peach-pink flowers unfold with many layers of petals; blooms reach 6-8 inches
Water deeply at soil level; avoid wetting flowers. Deadhead spent blooms to extend flowering. Cut flowers in early morning for arrangements. Feed with bloom booster every 7-10 days.
Senescence & Dormancy
4-6 weeks to frostBlooming slows as temperatures cool; foliage may yellow and die back after first frost
In zones 8-10, cut stems to 4 inches after frost; leave tubers in ground with mulch. In zone 7 and colder, dig tubers after frost, clean, dry, and store in cool (50°F), dry location until spring.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with water to increase humidity; use miticide if severe; remove heavily infested leaves. Improve air circulation.
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Hand-pick early morning; use Japanese beetle traps nearby but away from dahlias; apply neem oil or spinosad if population is high.
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Remove infested flower buds; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use blue sticky traps for monitoring.
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and
(Gastropoda)
Hand-pick at night; use copper barriers or tape around stakes; apply diatomaceous earth; set beer traps.
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Improve air circulation; spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate early; remove affected leaves; water at soil level only.
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Plant in well-draining soil; avoid overwatering; store tubers in cool, dry conditions; discard rotted tubers; apply fungicide to healthy tubers before storage.
Uses
Edible Flower Garnish
CulinaryDahlia petals are edible and non-toxic, adding visual drama and subtle earthy flavor to salads, desserts, and cocktails. Only use pesticide-free blooms. [source]
Premium Cut Flower & Floral Design
HouseholdCafé au Lait is one of the most sought-after dahlia varieties for high-end floristry and wedding arrangements due to its romantic peachy-pink color, large size, and vase longevity. [source]
Flower Pressing & Preservation
CraftThe voluminous petals can be gently pressed for scrapbooking, card-making, and botanical art projects. Blooms can also be dried upside down for lasting arrangements. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeAlthough double dahlias have reduced nectar accessibility due to numerous petals, single and semi-double forms attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects. Café au Lait's semi-double forms still provide some pollen. [source]
Ornamental & Wellness Horticulture
MedicinalCultivating dahlias offers therapeutic benefits through gardening, color therapy (soft peachy tones promote calm), and the joy of growing exhibition-quality specimens. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Cut flowers in early morning when stems are turgid; bring a bucket of water. Use a sharp knife and cut at an angle. Strip lower leaves to prevent stem rot in the vase. Re-cut stems and change water every 2-3 days. Dinnerplate dahlias last 7-14 days in a vase. Deadhead spent garden blooms to encourage continued flowering.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Café au Lait is a relatively new dahlia variety (introduced in the early 2000s) that quickly became a global sensation and is now one of the most expensive and sought-after dahlias, commanding premium prices from specialty growers.
- 🌱 Despite the delicate peachy-pink appearance, Café au Lait is remarkably sturdy and weather-tolerant compared to other dinnerplate dahlias, often remaining pristine through rain and heat.
- 🌱 The name 'Café au Lait' references the French coffee drink with hot milk, reflecting the bloom's warm, creamy peachy-tan coloration that deepens toward the center—a color combination rarely seen in nature.
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