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| Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner for 2011 | |
| Zinnia marylandica DOUBLE ZAHARA™ Fire, from PanAmerican won a Fleuroselect Gold Medal 2011. It is an open pollinated tetraploid variety considered to be the first disease tolerant Zinnia with truly double flowers. Zinnia marylandica is an artificial interspecific hybrid between Zinnia angustifolia and Zinnia violacea and is named after the University of Maryland where the first interspecific hybridizations and their chromosome doubling were achieved in the 1980’s. The genetic variability of Zinnia marylandica provides plenty of opportunity for breeders to continue developing important new varieties. The new hybrids are considered resistant to Erysiphe cichoracarum (powdery mildew), Xanthamonas campestris (bacterial leaf and flower spot) and Alternaria zinnia (Blight). Brittonia, 43(1), 1991, pp7-10, New York Botanical garden Press. http://www.jstor.org/pss/2807169 The new variety Double Zahara™ Fire, joins the Zinnia Zahara™ stable that already includes 6 single flowered varieties (Scarlet, Coral Rose, Starlight Rose, Tellow and White). The series is known not only for its disease resistance but also for its large flowers. The disease resistance and excellent garden performance of Double Zahara™ Fire, especially in contrast to Zinnia elegans, makes it ideal for use in outdoor landscaping where the climate is appropriate – high light and warm temperatures. Plants are also drought tolerant. They grow to a mounded shape, height and spread of about 34 x 32 cm with green obovate leaves. It is highly floriferous, flowering from the spring through to the first heavy frosts and carries bright red-orange double flowers. It can be used to good effect in gardens and garden borders or as a container plant. It is suggested that it is grown in 10.5cm pots for retail sales www.fleuroselect.com/goldmedal Seeds can be sown on a program basis from the spring to summer for packs and pots covered lightly with vermiculite and germinated at a temperature of 25°C under high light conditions. Resulting young plants are grown on at 16-21°C. They can be planted out 60 days after sowing. The total crop time (sowing to flowering) is 11 to 12 weeks in spring and 8 to 9 weeks in the summer. Plants should be kept moist, not too wet or too dry. Avoid overhead irrigation. Irrigation should take place during times when foliage will dry quickly in order to prevent disease. The application of plant growth regulators (B-Nine/Alar) are recommended in northwestern European conditions. www.panamseed.com/Media/Culture/PAS/ZinniaZahara.pdf |
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