Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'

The tried and tested 'Bishop' series of dahlias are highly valued for their reliability, their superb foliage and their vibrant-coloured blooms (that have the added bonus of being great for wildlife). Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' is a true heritage dahlia, dating back to the early 1800’s, yet it is deeply on trend with its dramatic combination of moody almost-black foliage and velvety magenta flowers, deepening to plum towards the centre. Prominent golden stamens complete the look to perfection, and bring in the pollinators, especially the bees and butterflies.

It is no surprise that Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' is a favourite among top-end growers and flower arrangers. Its dramatic flair lifts the garden out of its late summer slumber and it then continues to flower profusely well into autumn if the spent flowers are removed regularly. The attractive finely-cut, dark foliage is a merit in its own right, and can be used to provide an impactful contrast to bright blooms. Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' has a lovely open growth habit, and remains relatively compact at around 1m high, making it a great choice for containers too. If growing in a pot, give it a rich and moisture-retentive growing medium, and keep well-watered for optimum growth and flowering. Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' will continue to flower for many years as long as the tubers are protected from frost, either by mulching well in milder climates, or by lifting and storing over-winter in colder climates.