Dahlia Bishop of Llandaff is a classic tuberous perennial with a bushy, upright habit and strong branching stems. Mature plants usually reach about 80 to 110 cm high and 45 to 90 cm wide, forming a substantial clump of finely divided dark bronze-green, red-purple to almost black foliage.
From midsummer until the first frost, the plant produces many open peony-form flowers about 8 to 10 cm across. A single to semi-double arrangement of vivid red ray florets surrounds a prominent golden-yellow central disc. The accessible centre attracts bees and other pollinators, while long stems also make useful cut flowers.
Grow in full sun in fertile, humus-rich soil that remains evenly moist but drains freely. Plant outside after frost risk has passed, feed during active growth, water deeply in dry periods and deadhead often. In colder regions, lift tubers after the foliage is blackened by frost, dry them and store them in a protected dry place before replanting in spring.