Hybridizers: It can be fun to breed your own zinnias - Part 6, 1 by Pistil

Pistil wrote:
Hi ZM-
I like the latest Razzle Dazzle.
But I think you have a huge opportunity with the purplish base on the leaves above.
I have a Dahlia \"David Howard\" with orange blooms over dark foliage, quite stunning, plus the ugly old brown flowers do not show up at all from several feet away so it does not need to be deadheaded. Here is a not very good photo to show you the effect.
I think you could make a strain of zinnias with dark or variegated foliage, and this should be patentable. And saleable (if that is a word).