Dahlia 'Bishop's Children' Seeds

Dahlia × hortensis 'Bishop's Children' is a robust Half-Hardy Perennial (H2), typically grown as a high-performance annual from seed. It is the seedling progeny of the legendary 'Bishop of Llandaff', inheriting its celebrated dark, metallic foliage which provides a sophisticated backdrop for fiery floral displays.

The Bronze Advantage: The deep purple-black foliage is a garden designer's secret for creating depth. It provides a natural shadow-effect that makes the bright floral colours of scarlet and tangerine appear to "vibrate" with more intensity than they would against standard green leaves.

The Tuber Cycle: Even when grown from seed, these plants will work hard underground to form energy-storing tubers by the end of the first season. In autumn, after the first frost has blackened the foliage, these tubers can be lifted and stored frost-free over winter to be replanted the following spring for an even more majestic display.

Dahlias are fast-growing and incredibly rewarding, typically reaching flowering maturity just 12-14 weeks after sowing.

How to Sow:
Sow indoors from February to April. Sow the seeds onto the surface of moist seed compost and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite. Maintain a constant temperature of 20-25°C for rapid germination, which usually occurs within 7-14 days. When seedlings have 2-3 pairs of leaves, prick them out into individual pots, handling them only by the leaves to avoid bruising the stems.

Where to Plant:
Only plant out in late May or June once all risk of frost has passed. They demand full sun and deep, rich, fertile soil. Dahlias are hungry plants; we recommend digging in plenty of well-rotted organic matter or feeding weekly with a potash-rich fertilizer once the flower buds begin to form.

Ongoing Care:
To ensure a relentless display, pinching and deadheading are vital. Pinch out the central growing tip once the plant reaches 15cm to encourage a bushy, multi-stemmed habit. Throughout the season, regularly remove faded flower heads to prevent the plant from setting seed, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh "neon" blooms until the first autumn frosts.

'Bishop's Children' Dahlias provide a strong structural base that pairs spectacularly with airier partners from our available range:

• 💜 Verbena bonariensis: The Tall Contrast. The electric purple heads of Verbena held on wiry, see-through stems create a brilliant textural foil to the dense, dark foliage of the Dahlias. This is a classic "hot-meets-cool" combination that buzzes with wildlife.
• ☁️ Cosmos 'Purity': The Light and Dark. The large, silk-white saucer flowers of 'Purity' create a high-contrast background that makes the dark, moody bronze leaves of the 'Bishop's Children' mix look even more dramatic and defined.

Sow indoors in spring for a fiery display of blooms against dramatic dark foliage from mid-summer until the autumn frosts.