1 tuber 229022-1 £3.95 Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.
3 tubers 229022-3 £10.95 Delivery late February
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When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.
1 x 3 litre pot 229022-3L £10.50 Delivery late May
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When in stock, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. 
More Details

A luscious combination of dark foliage and rich plum-magenta flowers. This is a beacon outside my office. It flowers prolifically for months.

This can be gift wrapped in our exclusive hessian sack, with ribbon and a Sarah Raven gift card. You will be able to add this to your basket once you begin the checkout process. To add a gift message to your order, simply fill out the details at the delivery stage of the checkout.

Please note: only items which are showing ‘in stock’ can be gift wrapped.

Genus Dahlia
Group/Species Miscellaneous Group

Orchid-flowered and Peony-flowered types are classified as Miscellaneous. Also includes Double Orchid-flowered, Bishop, Mini Bishop and Star dahlias. Click here for more information about dahlia groups.
Variety Bishop of Canterbury
Type Tender Perennial Tuber
Common Name Dahlia
Border Position Middle
Bulb Size I
Soil Type Acid, Chalky, Fertile, Neutral
Scent Unscented
Site Full Sun
Moisture Moist but Well-drained
Height 1m (3ft 3in)
Spacing Plant just under the soil surface, 75cm (30in) apart.
Sowing, Seeds, Planting Pot them up undercover March or early April in a generous pot (at least 2 litre) filled with multi-purpose potting compost. Place them in a light, frost-free place and keep the compost moist. Pinch out their growing tips when they have reached about 8" tall. They will have formed bushy plants by the time the frosts have ended and will be in flower by the beginning of July. If you don’t have anywhere to grow the potted tubers, you can put them straight into the ground when the frosts are nearly over, mulching them or protecting with a cloche or protective horticultural fleece if the foliage appears before the frosts are over, but this will delay flowering.
Care Tips Support with a stout stick, tie in every couple of weeks. In the south you can mulch deeply and overwinter them in the ground, alternatively, lift and overwinter your dahlias frost free undercover.
Flowering July - November
Vase Life Only pick dahlias in full flower. Recut the hollow stem ends under water to avoid airlocks.
Cooking Notes All dahlia flowers are edible. I use the petals scattered over salad and to decorate a range of puddings.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
  • Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
  • Flowers/Harvest
Advice & Videos
History of the dahlia

First discovered by Aztec Indians and used for food and medicine, this tuber has an interesting history of cultivation.

Understanding dahlia groups

A list of the different dahlia groups, along with some classification info and an example of a variety in each group.

How to plant and grow dahlia tubers

Discover how to grow strong, healthy dahlias – how to plant, look after and overwinter them, and what to do with your bulbs when they arrive.

How to overwinter dahlia tubers

Sarah discusses the best options for overwintering dahlias – lifting or mulching.

Sublime dark dahlia flower arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a gorgeous large arrangement of dahlias.

Planting narcissi bulbs with dahlias

Have a beautiful display of flowers in your garden from March to the first frosts with this simple planting technique.

New favourite dahlia arrangement

Sarah shows you how to make a quick arrangement of colourful dahlias.

Growing dahlias in pots

Sarah shows you her favourite dahlia varieties for pots, and gives you some tips on how to grow them successfully.

How to take dahlia cuttings

Watch and learn how to take dahlia cuttings – turn 1 tuber into 10.

How to plant up your dahlia tubers

In this video Sarah shows you how to plant up your dahlia tubers.

When To Plant Dahlias

Related Videos
Delivery

Bulb Delivery - When in stock, please allow 3-4 working days for despatch.

Plant Delivery - When in stock, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. 

Click here to find out more information about our delivery rates and times.

Dahlia 'Bishop of Canterbury' reviews

* * * * - Average based on 26 reviews

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Reviewed 21st April 2020 by Michael

Strong, clean tubers. All are now shooting and I’m very hopeful of excellent plants- again. Thank you!

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Reviewed 4th November 2019 by Esther

A very pretty flower but a weaker plant and not many flowers through the season. Mine got some sort of leaf miner.

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Reviewed 16th August 2019 by Mrs Lycett

Excellent service and your staff are absolutely lovely. I am a great Sarah Raven fan. The Bishop of Canterbury dahlias also did not represent the colours inthe catalogue.

Reply from the Sarah Raven Team:

"Thank you for your review. We are sorry to hear of your disappointment with your dahlias and have refunded you for them."

Posted 17th August 2019

* * * * *

Reviewed 10th August 2019 by Elizabeth

Beautiful strong plant and lovely flowers - one of the first to flower this season. Bees enjoy the open structure and the flowers are larger than I had imagined

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Reviewed 3rd August 2019 by Linda

Excellent growth and flowers

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Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Chrissy

* * * * *

Reviewed 2nd August 2019 by Lyn

This is performing well and just getting into its stride. I had an open garden the other week and it was was one of my star plants.

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Reviewed 1st August 2019 by Mary

i was delighted with my plants as always

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Margaret

OK but

I wouldn’t buy anything from you again.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Ronny

They were fine and they are planted

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Elisabeth

Again the tubers looked of poor quality. So far there is a small plant with no flowers and it’s 1st August tomorrow! Quite disappointed!

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Patrick

Very nice colour, just not many for a show

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Margaret

Not flowered yet but very very heAlthy

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Maura

Lovely strong plants. Well packed on their arrival. Superb blooms. Excellent value. Other than that I can't think why I've given them 5 stars !

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Bethan

Some of the dahlia tubers were not in great condition. Given premium cost, I would expect better.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Paulette

My very first attempt with dahlias and these are wonderful. Strong stems, fabulous flower colour, happy in large pots.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Mrs Lycett

Excellent service and your staff are absolutely lovely. I am a great Sarah Raven fan. The Bishop of Canterbury dahlias also did not represent the colours inthe catalogue.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Ms Barnard

I have had 3 disappointments from SR this year:

A green dahlia which turns out to be agapanthus seedheads

Climbing Borloti beans which weren’t climbers.

Cookery course which was cancelled

My enthusiasm is somewhat dampened.

* * - - -

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Geraldine

This is the only tuber that has produced a reasonable number of flowers. However,it is not particularly vigorous. All the 'cheap' dahlia tubers I bought have grown very well and are producing a good display of flowers. I would definitely not buy dahlia tubers from Sarah Raven again. I will be interested to see if anyone responds to my reviews.

* * * * *

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Maxine

Excellent grown well flowers nice

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Claire

LOOKS GREAT
GOOD SIZE TUBER
WELL PACKED GOOD DELIVERY TIME

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Elizabeth

Good strong flower, nice bushy plant

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Angela

Healthy plant, turns out not to be the colour I expected, not as bold, but gorgeous foliage to contrast with the cyclamen pink flowers.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jackie

Bright pink flowers look wonderful against purple foliage.

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Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Dawn

These have produced lovely plants and plenty of flowers

Lovely

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Reviewed 4th November 2017 by S. Manson

These flowered beautifully all summer. They did not grow very tall so did not need staking. Lots of lovely blooms for cutting. Only drawback was that after a very wet spell in September, the leaves became quite marked.

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