Dahlia 'Bishop of Auckland'

A sibling to the famous 'Bishop of Llandaff', 'Bishop of Auckland' offers a more intense, velvety deep crimson-red flower. Like its relative, it is distinguished by magnificent dark purple-black foliage that adds structural and colour interest to the herbaceous border even when not in bloom. The single flowers are held on dark stems reaching up to 90cm and are highly attractive to bees. It is a robust plant that performs well in the UK summer, provided it receives plenty of sunshine and consistent moisture. It pairs excellently with hot-coloured perennials like Crocosmia or Heleniums. Tubers should be planted in late spring and protected from slugs during early growth. To ensure its return the following year, the tubers should be lifted after the first frost has blackened the stems and stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place. It is a must-have for the dark-foliage enthusiast.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Humus-rich, well-drained soil.

Hardiness: H3 — down to −5°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct.