Dahlia 'Café au Lait Royal'

A sport of the incredibly popular 'Café au Lait', 'Café au Lait Royal' offers the same massive, 'dinner plate' sized blooms but in a soft, dusty pink to lavender-rose hue, rather than the original's cream-beige. The flowers are fully double and can reach up to 25cm in diameter, making them a true focal point in any UK garden or floral arrangement. The plant is bushy and tall, reaching about 120cm, and requires sturdy staking to support the weight of the large blooms, especially during the frequent rain of a British summer. It flowers from mid-summer until the first frost. It prefers a rich, fertile soil and a sunny, sheltered spot to protect the delicate petals from wind damage. Like its parent, it is a favourite for weddings and cutting. Tubers should be started in pots indoors in April and moved out in June. Overwintering involves lifting the tubers and storing them in a frost-free, dry environment.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Rich, fertile, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.