Dahlias are half hardy, so keep them protected from frost. Pot tubers individually between February and April and grow them on in a greenhouse or bright indoor position. Alternatively, start them outside in May, once the risk of frost has passed.
You would be hard-pressed to find a larger pure white flower for the garden, than that offered by Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme'. A giant decorative dahlia, its flowers are up to 20-25cm across, and they are as white as white can be. They start to appear in mid-summer, and they carry on coming until the first frosts of autumn. Fleshy, glossy, dark green leaves set off beautifully the brilliance of the flowers. A tuberous-rooted perennial, Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme' will reach a height of 100-120cm.
Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme' will provide stunning white highlights to seasonal borders or mixed garden beds. It is equally useful on an allotment or in a cutting garden—as these dahlia flowers are exceptionally good for the vase. Just make sure, wherever you grow this dahlia, that it has room to spread and show off its huge flowers to best advantage.
Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme' is the white sister plant to the long-established and fashionable Dahlia 'Café au Lait' (pinkish cream and tan), and the more recent Dahlia 'Café au Lait Rosé' (deep pink). We expect ‘Supreme’ to be another highly popular dahlia.
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Plant profile
Plant calendar
For planting out later, use a snug-fitting 15–20cm pot filled with peat-free multipurpose compost. For a patio display, plant directly into a container at least 30cm wide and keep it somewhere bright and frost free until it can move outdoors.
Position the old stem facing upwards, with the tubers covered and the stem stump level with the compost. Tubers naturally vary in size and shape and may arrive without visible buds. Bent necks are usually fine if they remain firmly attached, so do not remove them.
Water after planting, then allow the compost to become almost dry before watering again while the tuber remains dormant. Once shoots and leaves are growing strongly, water more regularly, always allowing excess water to drain away.
Plant out after the last frost, once the plant is around 20–30cm tall and its roots hold the compost together. Space dahlias approximately 30–50cm apart in borders, allowing less room for compact varieties. Water thoroughly after planting.
Water regularly during active growth and deadhead or cut flowers often. Dahlias usually bloom from July or August until the first frost, although later-planted tubers may start in late August or September. In autumn, lift, clean and dry the tubers, then store them somewhere cool, dry, airy and frost free.
- Botanical name
- Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme'
- Dahlia division
- Decorative dahlia (Div 5)
- Flower colour
- Cream, white
- Tuber size
- 1
- Established height
- 70cm-1m
- Established spread
- 30-50cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Half hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 5 tubers per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Cut flower gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
- No report
- Years to establish
- 1st year
Dahlia 'Café au Lait Supreme' reviews
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