Local data…
The team monitored the growth and quality of four popular zinnia varieties
Ginderella peach was one of the zinnia varieties grown in a two-year research trial led by Kristin Lang, assistant professor and specialist in the SDSU Extension and Consumer Horticulture field. It is a Scabiosa type flower with frill-like double petals arranged on top of a single row of petals. (SDSU extension)
BROOKINGS, South Dakota — South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to announce the results of zinnia variety trials in eastern South Dakota.
Kristin Lang, assistant professor and SDSU Extension and Consumer Horticulture Specialist, administered the research trial. For two years, Lang and her team monitored the growth and quality of four popular zinnia varieties: Ginderella Peach, Oklahoma Ivory, Queen Red Line, and Benary’s Giant Purple.
Lang said there is limited data on the popularity of cut flower varieties at trade shows in the Midwest, and specialty growers in South Dakota are eager for local data.
“Much of the breeding of cut flowers takes place outside of the coasts and Midwest, so it’s useful to see how flowers perform in environments with long summer day lengths, wind, and humidity. “, Lang said. “We would like to hear from farmers whether these findings are consistent with what they are seeing.”
For each variety, the researchers recorded flower diameter, number of stems, stem length, length of growing season, insect damage, and how straight or curved the flower stems were. The full results were published in Volume 34, Issue 5 of the HortTechnology journal.
During testing, Oklahoma ivory produced the most marketable stems, or flowers, but it also had some of the smallest flowers. On the other hand, Benally’s Giant Purple had the least number of stems but the largest flowers.
Queen Red Lime had the second most flowers and the longest stems. Ginderella peach suffered the most pest damage, but also had a unique curved stem.
Mr Lang said it was up to growers to decide which variety would perform “the best”. She said Benally’s Giant Purple is a good candidate for Midwestern flower growers looking for long stems and flowers without major defects that are resistant to pests.
Queen red limes are a good choice for farmers looking for straight, strong stems and medium-sized flowers. And for farmers who want as many smaller flowering stems as possible, there’s Oklahoma Ivory. Farmers looking for a unique variety of zinnia and who like curved stems may prefer the Zinderella peach.
Brookings alum Ellie Fitzpatrick was the lead undergraduate research assistant on the project and co-author of the published paper. She will graduate in Spring 2024 with a major in Agriculture and Horticulture and minors in Soil Health Management, Crop Protection, and Spanish. As her honors research project, working with cut flowers taught her about every step of a research project, from ideation to execution.
“I am very happy to have had the opportunity to work on this project and am confident that this research experience will provide me with a strong foundation for graduate school,” she said.
Alexis Burns and Hannah Voy also assisted in the trial. To view the full paper and research results, please visit https://extension.sdstate.edu/tags/horticulture-research or https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05452-24.
Cut flowers are flowers or flower buds that are cut from plants and used decoratively. Lang said cut flower cultivation in South Dakota has grown significantly from just a few in 2021 compared to more than 30 in 2024.
Lang said he is excited to continue researching cut flowers in 2025, and that farmers in South Dakota are showing interest in ranunculus, lissantis, dahlia and tulip varieties.
“This study sets the stage for continued cut flower trials across the Midwest as farmers and researchers work together to improve cut flower systems for the expanding local flower market,” Lang said. Ta.
For more information, contact Lang at 605-688-5796 or (email protected).
— South Dakota State University Extension
