Cafe au Lait Dahlia Tuber
Cafe au Lait. Swoon. Often referred to as the "Queen of Dahlias" she's undeniably gorgeous. Growing big fluffy blooms on a tall abundant plant, she often stops us in our tracks. That said, she's one of the fussiest dahlias we grow. She has a tendency to throw single flowers (ones with an open center and fewer petals), and take random breaks in blooming when you're counting on her. She's also much beloved by grasshoppers who delight in taking every opportunity to chomp a single bite out of an otherwise perfect bloom.
That said, she's also the one dahlia all florists and brides-in-the-know can call on by name. That and Peaches N Cream.
For all her faults she's a staple for flower farmers and florists alike, and for the home gardener who can see the beauty in the off-types as well as the glorious, fluffy, ivory-and-cream goddess when she does show up, Cafe au Lait will be a mainstay anywhere dahlias are grown. Because when she's good, she's really really good.
Tall plants benefit from support, and I get the highest percentage of useable blooms when my plant nutrition is on point.