Overview
Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' is a bushy, clump-forming perennial in the genus Dahlia, part of the Asteraceae family, with green foliage. Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' grows best in full sun, and tolerates well-drained and fertile soils and neutral to slightly acidic pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H4. Suggested uses include borders, cut flowers and containers.
About
A tall dahlia cultivar with large, single, deep red flowers featuring a yellow center, known for its striking appearance and long flowering period.
About the genus
Dahlias come from the high meadows of Mexico, and somewhere in that heritage is the explanation for how they behave here: tender to frost, hungry, generous beyond all reason. No other plant gives you quite so much for so little. One tuber, planted after the last frost, becomes a shrub's worth of flowers by August — and the more you cut, the more they come.The range is faintly ridiculous. Tight pompoms, spiky cactus types, singles the bees adore, dinner-plates the size of your face. Whatever your garden's mood, there is a dahlia that agrees with it, which is probably why every generation falls out of love with them and then, a decade later, falls straight back in.They're at their best when much of the garden is winding down — late summer into autumn, flowering hard until the first frost calls time. I think of them as the encore. And they always play it.
Written by Henry
Growing conditions
Best soil and position for Dahlia
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil type
- well-drained, fertile
- Soil pH
- neutral to slightly acidic
- Soil moisture
- moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- south-facing
- Exposure
- sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' size, habit and characteristics
- Plant type
- perennial
- Habit
- Bushy, Clump-forming
- Foliage
- Green
- Suggested uses
- borders, cut flowers, containers
Care notes
Pruning and caring for Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'
- Cultivation
- Plant tubers after the last frost in well-prepared soil; stake tall varieties to support stems; deadhead to encourage flowering.
- Pruning
- Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushiness; remove spent flowers regularly.
- Propagation
- tuber division, cuttings
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free
Frequently asked questions
How do I grow Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'?
Plant tubers after the last frost in well-prepared soil; stake tall varieties to support stems; deadhead to encourage flowering.
Where is the best place to plant Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'?
Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' prefers full sun. It suits sheltered positions.
What soil does Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' need?
Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' grows best in well-drained and fertile soil. It prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil. Aim for soil that stays moist but well-drained.
How do I prune Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'?
Pinch out growing tips to encourage bushiness; remove spent flowers regularly.
Is Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' hardy in the UK?
Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' has an RHS hardiness rating of H4, meaning it is hardy through an average UK winter, tolerating -10 to -5°C.
How do I propagate Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury'?
Tuber division, cuttings.
More in the Dahlia genus
- Dahlia 'Clearview Cameron' (C)
- Dahlia 'Croydon Jumbo' (D)Dahlia
- Dahlia 'Elizabeth Snowden' (Col)
- Dahlia 'Katie's Velvet' (Col)Dahlia
- Dahlia 'LB Michael Braithwaite' (D)
- Dahlia 'Amazing Grace' (Misc)
- Dahlia 'Aurora's Kiss' (Ba)
- Dahlia 'Black Diamond' (Ba)