Zinnia Elegans ‘Giant Dahlia Dream’
go.ncsu.edu/readext?229417
Trial: Annual
Years Trialed: 1996
Good Qualities
Exciting color (7); Long stems (3); Strong stems (2); A useable size flower head for a ‘giant’ series. Good stem length and fair vase life with supplemental flower food.; Huge flowers.; Prolonged production.; Large, long lasting.
Problems
Mildew (2); Fungal pathogens and thrips in the greenhouse. Poorer germination than the other varieties tested. Inconsistent flowering, some almost single flowered similar to a daisy while others were full but not round like the cutting types.; Tends to have more single blooms than other colors.; Poor disease resistance. Didn’t cut a single stem-no useable stems.; Variable appearance.
Trial Data
| Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating¹ | Repeat Again Rating¹ | Ease of Cultivation Rating¹ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 10.7 | 18.2 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.3 |
¹1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Benary Seed
1444 Larson St.
Sycamore, IL 60178
Comments
A great color and very easy to grow and a better greenhouse performer than in the field.; One of our favorites of the ‘Blue Point’ series.; In the top 3 favorites of this year’s cuts.; It would be nice to have large, strong flowers and longer stems.