Café au Lait
ADS #0042
The undisputed queen of wedding dahlias. Café au Lait produces massive, dreamy blooms in shades of creamy pink, blush, and champagne — no two flowers are exactly alike. This variety single-handedly launched a dahlia renaissance among flower farmers and florists. The blooms are breathtaking in bridal bouquets, but equally stunning as a garden focal point.
Specifications
- Bloom Form
- Formal Decorative
- Size Class
- Dinner Plate
- Bloom Size
- 10"
- Color
- Creamy blush pink with ivory undertones that shift toward peach in warm weather
- Height
- 40–48"
- Bloom Season
- Midsummer to Frost
- Hybridizer
- Unknown
- Introduced
- 1960
- Origin
- Netherlands
Growing Notes
Plant in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Stake at planting time — these tall plants carry heavy blooms that need support. Pinch the center growing tip at 12 inches to encourage branching. Café au Lait is a moderate producer; expect 5–8 blooms per plant in a season. Remove spent flowers promptly to encourage continued blooming. In zones 7 and below, dig and store tubers after the first hard frost.
Where to Buy
Reviews (127)
127 reviews
My first Café au Lait bloom literally stopped me in my tracks. The color shifts throughout the day — peachy in morning light, more pink by afternoon. Absolutely magical.
Ordered from three different growers and every tuber produced stunning blooms. The dinner-plate size is no exaggeration — measured one at 11 inches!
Gorgeous blooms but the stems can't always support the weight. Heavy staking is essential. Lost a few blooms to wind before I reinforced my stakes.
