The Dahlia first arrived in England in 1798, when the Marchioness of Bute sent plants from Madrid to Kew. They died out but more were sent from Madrid in 1804 by Lady Holland and by 1815 Dahlia mania had arrived along with hybrids from France. Originally from Mexico where they had been grown for food it was believed that the tubers might serve as a substitute for the potato.

Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' was raised by Fred Treseder at his nursery in Llandaff, now part of Cardiff in 1924 and was named after his friend the Bishop. The Royal Horticultural Society gave it an Award of Merit in 1928.