Zinnias have long been garden favorites for their bright blossoms and easy culture. But many have one big drawback- susceptibility to fungal diseases. Now gardeners who want a dose of hot color and improved disease resistance need look no further than the 2011 Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner, Zinnia marylandica Double Zahara ™ Fire.

Developed at the University of Maryland in the early 1980s, Zinnia marylandica is a modern hybrid between Zinnia angustifolia and Zinnia violacea. The cultivar 'Double Zahara ™ Fire' was chosen by Fleuroselect, the International Organisation for the Ornamental Plant Industry, as the first truly double zinnia with a high degree of disease tolerance. This compact selection grows about 14 inches tall and wide and is covered all summer long with brilliant red-orange blossoms. Its prolific flowering and lack of disease problems lead to superior landscape performance, making it great for mass plantings. Look for it at garden centers and greenhouses next spring.

For more information on Zinnia Double Zahara ™ Fire, go to: Fleuroselect.