Seedling Naming Program
A flower to carry a story
Some stories deserve a place to grow.
The Seedling Naming Program is a free, thoughtful way to share a person, memory or milestone you would love to honour through a dahlia. Your story joins our private waiting list. As our seedlings reveal their character, we look for a flower that feels connected to the stories entrusted to us.
You might be remembering someone you love, celebrating a birth or a new chapter, or honouring a family legacy. We are honoured to hold your story with care.
A slow and careful journey
Every dahlia grown from seed is a genetic surprise. Its colour, form and presence can change from season to season. We observe each seedling’s consistency, plant health and character over time.
Seedlings must grow consistently for three years before they can be named. After the program commences, five to ten seedlings will be named each year. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee a match, a naming opportunity or a particular waiting time.
The three years relate to the seedling’s growth, not a promise that your story will receive a match within three years.
How the Program works
- Share your story. Tell us who or what you hope to honour and the qualities a flower might embody. You may suggest a name, or leave that for later.
- Join the private waiting list. We keep your story so we can consider it as suitable seedlings emerge.
- Let the seedlings reveal themselves. Over several seasons, we assess which seedlings grow consistently and meet the farm’s criteria.
- Receive a personal invitation. If you have agreed to be contacted and the farm identifies a possible match, we will get in touch. The farm alone chooses which stories and seedlings are matched.
- Celebrate the named dahlia. Once the match and name are confirmed, you will receive a tuber to grow, photographs taken at the farm and a certificate from The Dahlia Patch. We will ask for your postal address only at this stage.
The Honour Garden
We have added nine beds, each measuring 1.2 × 9 metres, for our seedling dahlias. A section will be called the Honour Garden, honouring the named dahlias and their families.
It will be a shared part of the farm’s living story. Naming a dahlia does not give a family ownership of the plant or an exclusive garden bed.
What naming means
Every name carries the Dahlia Patch prefix and is registered at our farm only, not with a dahlia society.
The Dahlia Patch retains ownership of its named dahlias and may sell qualifying dahlias commercially, using their registered names. Participants help name a flower; they do not acquire ownership or exclusive rights to the cultivar.
Your story stays private unless you separately give permission for public sharing. Newsletter subscription is optional and is not a condition of participating.
Share your story
Please tell us only what you feel comfortable sharing. A few thoughtful sentences are enough. Avoid including sensitive information or other people’s contact details.
Participation is free. Naming is not guaranteed. We do not need your postal address at this stage.
Questions or a change of heart?
To update your details, change a sharing permission or withdraw your expression of interest, email hello@thedahliapatch.com.au.