SEA-TAC GARDENS

    ORIGINATIONS

        The picture shows some of the dahlias originated here at SEA-TAC GARDENS.

                     Row 1. Isabella, John Bramlett, Cabo Perla, Cabo Bella.

                     Row 2. Sea-Helado, El Triunfo, Tennessee Rose, B.J.Tillotson.

                     Row 3. Sea-Fuego, Sea-Cascabel, Baja Sun, Lady in red.

                     Row 4. Denver Nugget, Violetta, Sea-Padre Jim, Judi Marie

                     Row 5. Sea-Canela, Flan, Sea-Precious, Sea-Electra.

                    Row 6. Miss McGee, Joshua P, Mariposa Blanca, Janna.

                         SEA-TAC originations? How are dahlias "originated"?

New cultivars of dahlias are brought forth in two ways. The first is by natural mutation. Occasionally a plant of a known cultivar will "sport" a branch in which the blooms have changed, usually in color. If cuttings are taken from this branch and rooted, the mutant characteristics will be preserved. The cultivar can then be propagated vegitatively from roots or cuttings from then on.

The second, and most common way is to grow dahlias from seed. All modern dahlias are hybrids and have a complex chromosome structure. They are also in the compositae family of plants in which florets are arranged in dense heads, which resemble single flowers. Each floret is a complete flower. Due to these characteristics, seeds from dahlias do not produce seedlings that are "true" to their parentage, and each produces a new cultivar.

Plants having desirable characteristics are selected from the seedlings and reproduced vegitatively. These cloned plants faithfully maintain the parent's characteristics.