Dahlia Café au Lait

Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ typically reaches a height of 90-120cm (36-48in), so it is best used for borders and cut flower gardens. Its stems are quite strong, but particularly tall stems with particularly heavy flowers may benefit from staking. This is especially the case in exposed or windy areas.

Plant Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ tubers in spring, after the risk of frost has passed, in a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Position its tubers 10-15cm (4-6in) deep, each one with its shoots facing upwards. Water them in well after planting and throughout dry periods. Surrounding plants with a mulch of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure will help feed your plants and retain moisture.. Support taller stems with stakes to prevent bending under the weight of large flowers. Feed them every two weeks with a high-potassium fertiliser, such as tomato feed, from midsummer onwards.

Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’ begins flowering in mid to late summer, usually from July, continuing until the first frost. Warmer temperatures and regular feeding will encourage earlier blooms. For a display that lasts into autumn, remove spent flowers regularly and water during dry spells. If started indoors in early spring, tubers may produce blooms slightly earlier than those planted directly in the ground.