Dahlias are best propagated by which method?

• A. Cutting the crown of the tuberous root into pieces so that each contains a shoot bud
• B. Cutting the tuber into sections with at least one eye
• C. Cutting the rhizome into sections with each piece containing one bud
• D. Separating the cormels from the old corm

Answer: (A)

Propagating dahlias most reliably is by dividing the crown of the tuberous root into pieces, with each piece carrying a shoot bud. The crown is the growth center where eyes or buds form and where stored carbohydrates are concentrated, so a fragment that includes both a bud and crown tissue can sprout quickly and establish a strong plant. This approach lets you produce multiple uniform plants from one clump, each with its own energy reserve to start growth. Other options don’t align with how dahlias store and produce new shoots, and involve structures (like rhizomes or cormels) that aren’t part of dahlias, making them less suited for this species.