Dahlia – Dinnerplate Cafe au Lait Rose
Add breathtaking color and elegance to your garden with Dinnerplate Cafe au Lait Rose Dahlia. This stunning variety is a deeper, rosier companion to the classic Cafe au Lait, producing enormous dinnerplate-sized blooms in beautiful shades of rich rose pink blended with soft blush and creamy highlights. The large, layered petals create a lush, romantic flower that becomes an instant focal point in garden beds and floral arrangements.
Cafe au Lait Rose is prized by gardeners and floral designers for its impressive bloom size and stunning coloration. The plants produce strong stems and abundant flowers from mid-summer until the first frost, making them perfect for cutting gardens and dramatic landscape displays. The large blooms are especially popular for wedding arrangements and elegant bouquets while also attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Plant Details
Plant Type: Flowering Bulb (Tuber)
Flower Color: Rose pink with blush and creamy highlights
Bloom Size: Extra-large dinnerplate blooms (8–10 inches or larger)
Plant Height: 36–48 inches
Bloom Time: Mid-summer to first frost
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Uses: Garden beds, borders, cutting gardens, and floral arrangements
Growing Instructions for Zone 3b
Dahlias are not winter hardy in colder climates and should be planted after the danger of frost has passed. In Zone 3b, tubers must be lifted and stored indoors during winter.
Planting Time
Plant tubers outdoors in late spring once the final frost has passed and soil temperatures reach about 60°F (15–16°C).
Location
Choose a location receiving 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily with rich, well-drained soil.
Planting Depth
- Dig a hole 4–6 inches deep.
- Place the tuber horizontally with the growing eye facing upward.
- Cover with soil and water lightly.
Spacing
Space plants 18–24 inches apart to allow room for the large plants to grow and maintain good airflow.
Watering
Water lightly after planting. Once shoots appear, maintain consistent moisture while avoiding waterlogged soil.
Fertilizing
Apply a balanced fertilizer every 3–4 weeks during the growing season to support healthy growth and large blooms.
Support
- Because of the large flowers, staking is recommended to prevent stems from bending or breaking.
Overwintering in Zone 3b
- After the first frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to 4–6 inches.
- Carefully dig up the tubers and allow them to dry for several days.
- Store in peat moss, sawdust, or vermiculite in a cool, dry, frost-free location (40–50°F) until spring.
With proper care, Dinnerplate Cafe au Lait Rose Dahlias will produce breathtaking oversized blooms in rich rosy tones, bringing dramatic beauty and elegance to summer gardens and stunning floral arrangements.