DAHLIA VARIABILIS 'BISHOP'S CHILDREN'

Description

With exceptionally beautiful bronze foliage, and large, single flowers in a flamboyant mix of rich colours - deep reds, orange, pinks and gold, this makes a wonderful cut flower. It can even be very easily grown as a half-hardy annual and will flower the first year from seed, and is related to the famous and expensive "Bishop Series. Alternatively, you can save the tubers, when formed, for ensuing years, simply leaving them in the ground in milder areas. Absolutely spectacular in bedding and containers.

Sowing Advice

For best results, sow immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. We sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination, as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, often waiting for natural spring germination, hence giving them a full season of growth.

Key Facts