Every Dahlia fan will have heard of the variety ‘Cafe au Lait’. These once forgotten plants are now stalwarts of the late summer garden, and ‘Cafe au Lait’ has become the absolute star of the show. The dinner plate sized blooms have graced many a floral decoration or wedding bouquet.  The huge blooms can reach 20cm (8in) across at their peak and have become one of our most fashionable varieties.

Not everyone however will have heard of the sister varieties of this Dahlia that equal their beauty and look set to match their popularity. Below I would like to introduce my readers to the three varieties currently in the range.

Dahlia ‘Café au Lait’

Huge, pillowy flowers which open pale pink then fade to the perfect colour: a warm cream-blush, which mixes well with so many different colour combinations.

Dahlia ‘Café au Lait Royal’

The best of the new generation ‘Café au Laits’, with whopper, milky coffee to ivory flowers, with the lightest dusting of pink. This is set to make all dahlia lovers swoon.

Dahlia ‘Café au Lait Supreme’

With the same beautiful flower shape, with petals turning this way and that, and the same magnificent scale, this pure white form of ‘Café au Lait’ is indeed supreme.

These top-heavy plants will require support.  They will also require protection from frost.  In more Southerly regions of the U.K they can be left in the ground and simply mulched heavily.  Further North they will need to be lifted from the ground and stored dry in a frost free place.

To view a collection of all three varieties at Sarah Raven click here

Mark Snelling

All images and descriptions copyright Sarah Raven

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