Dahlia Cafe au Lait
Dahlia hybrid 'Cafe au Lait'
The queen of dinner plate dahlias, producing enormous 10-12 inch blooms in soft cream and blush tones that create stunning focal points in any garden. This award-winning variety is prized by florists and gardeners alike for its massive size, elegant color, and strong stems perfect for cutting. A true showstopper that transforms any garden space into a dramatic display.
Harvest
90-120d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
7–10
USDA hardiness
Height
1-6 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Dahlia Cafe au Lait in USDA Zone 7
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Dahlia Cafe au Lait · Zones 7–10
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Division, Root Cutting. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Edibility: Were grown as a food crop by Aztecs, but the practice has died out.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Cafe au Lait blooms last 5-7 days in arrangements when properly conditioned. Store cut stems in cool water (65-70°F) in a cool location away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Recut stems every 2-3 days and change water completely to maximize longevity.
For preservation, air-dry smaller blooms by hanging stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks. The massive dinner plate blooms are too large and moisture-rich for successful air drying. Instead, use silica gel drying by burying blooms face-up in silica crystals for 5-7 days.
Press individual petals between absorbent paper for craft projects, though the thick, fleshy petals take 3-4 weeks to fully dry. Freeze-drying produces the best results for preserving these spectacular blooms, maintaining both size and color integrity.
History & Origin
Origin: Mexico, Central America, northern South America
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
- +Edible: Were grown as a food crop by Aztecs, but the practice has died out.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves): Low severity
- -Causes contact dermatitis
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) are the most practical neighbor here — their root secretions suppress soil nematodes, and their scent disrupts aphids scouting for a landing spot. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop, drawing aphid pressure away from the dahlias before it gets established. Zinnias and cosmos fit naturally in the same bed since they share Café au Lait's water requirements and don't compete at root depth — in zone 7 Georgia that shared warm-season window is short enough that you don't want anything robbing it. Black walnut is the one plant to keep at a serious distance; juglone leaches through the soil and will stunt or kill dahlia tubers even when the tree looks far enough away. Mint spreads by runners faster than most people expect and will physically crowd tubers out by midsummer.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, spider mites, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting dahlias
Zinnias
Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects while providing similar growing conditions
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and provide complementary bloom times and heights
Salvia
Deters pests with aromatic oils and attracts pollinators
Celosia
Similar water and sun requirements, attracts beneficial insects
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts hover flies and parasitic wasps that control aphids
Sunflowers
Provide beneficial insects habitat and can offer some wind protection
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Release juglone toxin that inhibits dahlia growth and can cause wilting
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most garden plants
Mint
Aggressive spreading roots compete for nutrients and water, can overtake dahlia beds
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common dahlia diseases when grown in proper conditions
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, thrips, dahlia borer, earwigs
Diseases
Powdery mildew, botrytis, bacterial soft rot, crown gall
Troubleshooting Dahlia Cafe au Lait
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer when nights cool slightly but days stay warm
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — spores spread by wind, thrives in dry heat with high humidity swings
- Crowded spacing that restricts airflow between plants
What to Do
- 1.Strip and bag heavily infected leaves — don't compost them
- 2.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate product; reapply every 7-10 days
- 3.Next season, hold to the full 18-24 inch spacing and don't plant dahlias in the same bed two years running
Stem collapses at or just below soil level, often with a foul smell and mushy tissue at the base, usually after a stretch of wet weather
Likely Causes
- Bacterial soft rot (Erwinia carotovora) — enters through wounds or insect feeding sites, moves fast in waterlogged soil
- Dahlia borer (Megastes grandalis) tunneling into the crown, creating entry points for rot
What to Do
- 1.Pull the plant immediately — soft rot spreads to neighboring tubers fast
- 2.Check the tuber clump for borer tunnels; discard any tuber with hollow channels or dark streaking inside
- 3.Improve drainage in that bed before replanting — dahlias need 1-1.5 inches of water per week but cannot sit in soggy soil
Distorted, sticky new growth with clusters of small soft-bodied insects on shoot tips and undersides of young leaves
Likely Causes
- Aphids (commonly Myzus persicae or Macrosiphum euphorbiae) — populations explode fast in warm weather
- Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) can cause similar distortion; check for tiny elongated insects or silver streaking on petals
What to Do
- 1.Knock aphids off with a firm stream of water from a hose; repeat every 2-3 days until pressure drops
- 2.For persistent infestations, apply insecticidal soap directly to the colonies — coat the undersides of leaves, not just the tops
- 3.Back off any high-nitrogen fertilizer mid-season; the lush, soft tissue it produces is exactly what aphids key in on