Dahlia variabilis

‘Bishop’s Children’

BISHOP’S CHOCOLATE DAHLIAS

No WA

Dahlia variabilis ‘Bishop’s Children’
BISHOP’S CHOCOLATE DAHLIAS

Not permitted for entry to WA

Dahlia variabilis ‘Bishop’s Children’ has given us some of the most stunning new garden Dahlias of recent decades.
They are recently bred offspring of the iconic, hardy old garden Dahlia – ‘Bishop of Llandarff’ – one of the most loved old dahlias for it’s near black foliage and simple but elegant single flowers.

Sunset colours deep velvet reds, peach, pinks, plums & white

The blooms of ‘Bishop’s Children’ range from pure and simple singles to peony petalled doubles.
And this really shows off the luxurious, velvety, richly coloured petals to best advantage.
Blooms can be anything from black-red to pure white, and all points in between.

Atop devilishly fashionable dark foliage

The foliage of ‘Bishop’s Children’ plants are just as important in a garden design as the flowers.
Because the leaves of each plant range in colour from plums to chocolate; from black to burgundy.
All providing wonderful foliage contrast to the other green plants in the garden bed, and for months on end.
Plus making a dramatic foil for their own luxurious flower colours.

As easy to grow as any other Dahlias

I am delighted to say that ‘Bishop’s Children’ Dahlias are very fashionable, and suit the modern gardening lifestyle so well with their ease of growing.

Hardy garden fixtures – not pampered show ponies

Dahlia variabilis ‘Bishop’s Children’ are easy to grow, low maintenance plants
Dahlias (always hardy old garden standbys) fell into a fashion black hole for some decades – but DAHLIAS ARE BACK now.
Gardeners cant resist their joyous flower colours, contrasting dark foliage, wonderful cut flowers for vases, and ease of growing.

Great garden flowers & foliage

‘Bishop’s Children’ Dahlias make great garden plants.
Blooms are profuse and medium size, so they are able to hold their heads up by themselves – no staking needed.
And the bushes are compact, stoutly branching and weather hardy, with those devilishly dark contrasting foliage colours.
So they will not need staking unless you have an exceptionally windy spot.

Quick from seed to flower

And if you sow your seeds indoors in late winter to very early spring – you can have new plants to plant out early summer, and first flowers to see that autumn.
Then the tubers go on blooming for many following years.

Harvest edible flowers for the kitchen

Use the colourful petals of Dahlia variabilis ‘Bishop’s Children’ as a tasty addition to salads, fruit salads, punches and cocktail drinks.
So pluck the petals, discard the chunky centre of the flower, and just keep the petals.

Plus edible tubers

Dahlia tubers are also eminently edible and highly prized for food in several different cultures.
The tuber flavour varies depending on individual plants and conditions, but resembles a cross between water-chestnut, beetroot and carrots.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Suitable for beginners & gardening with kids

Sow seeds for Dahlia variabilis ‘Bishop’s Children’ at any time of year indoors in appropriate temperatures
OR
Scatter directly in the garden in spring & early summer.

Dahlias are easy to grow from seed, and soon form a tuber.
So many Dahlia breeders increase their selection by growing from seed.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seed in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then cover the seed to a depth of approx. 5mm.

Now stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath and allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Drain, then place the moist punnet in a warm, well-lit position position (but not in any direct sunlight).
And covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid will help keep the surface consistently moist.

Continue to keep the sown punnet moist by misting from a spray water bottle.

Temperatures of 20-25°C are best for rapid and optimum germination.
Because Dahlia seeds do like heat for sprouting.
So use a heat mat if you have one.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 7-14 days.

Then prick out into individual pots once the first set of true leaves have developed, and grow on in pots ready to plant out into the garden in summer.

Seed Count: 20 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

Click here for our Nursery Open Days & Open Gardens Information
https://www.gardivalia.com.au/open-gardens

Click here to go back to Seeds Shop
https://www.seedscape.net.au/shop/