| Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Species | Dahlia ×hortensis |
| Hybrid parentage | D. coccinea × D. pinnata |
| Cultivar | 'Bishop of Llandaff' |
'Bishop of Llandaff' is a cultivar of the dahlia, a garden plant. It is a branching, tuberous tender perennial with dark purple, almost black, foliage. This produces a stunning contrast with its scarlet flowers. The plant was first bred by Fred Treseder, a Cardiff nurseryman. It was selected by and named to honour Joshua Pritchard Hughes, Bishop of Llandaff, in 1924 and won the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1928. The plant is about 1 m tall and flowers from June until September. As with all dahlias, frost blackens its foliage, and in areas prone to frost its tubers need to be overwintered in a dry, frost-free place. The variety became very popular in the 1990s.
The simpler form (single or semi-double) of the flower makes the nectar and pollen more accessible to pollinating insects.
A seed strain has been produced from this plant called 'Bishops Children', they retain the dark foliage colour but produce a mix of flower colours and flower shapes from single to semi-double flowers in different sizes.
Plant Profile:
- Height: 1.1 m (3+1⁄2 ft)
- Spread: 45 cm (18 in)
- Site: full sun
- Soil: fertile, free-draining
- Hardiness: half-hardy
Also comes in rich reds and purples, yellows and oranges, as well as paler shades
References
- ^ Szerlag, Nancy. "Gardening: Old-fashioned dahlia a stunner". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- Bourne, Val (30 September 2013). "My dahlias are brightening up September". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 10 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ Vernon, Andy (2014). The Plant Lover's Guide to Dahlias. United Kingdom: Timber Press. p. 7.
- Dowdall, Peter (3 April 2022). "The perennials that will lead to masses of colour". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2023.