'Raider gold' plains zinnia (zinnia grandiflora nutt.)

Native wildflowers provide an excellent resource for low-maintenance ornamental plants tolerant of bothheat and drought. With increasing concerns regarding water quality and quantity, the use and demand for tough ornamentals is on the rise. To address this need, native accessions of Zinnia grandiflora Nutt. were collected over the past nine years andincorporatedintoanornamentalbreeding program aimed at enhancing the appearance and performance of these plants in landscapes. In addition, efforts have been focused toidentifyminimalinputsneededtomaintain this native plant in an urban landscape. 'Raider Gold' is a new plains zinnia cultivar release from Texas Tech University. 'Raider Gold' is intended for use in demanding landscape situations where heat and drought reduce the performance of more traditional ornamentals. In university trials, this perennial displayed attractive golden flowers on a compact plant with a mounding habit. 'Raider Gold' exhibits an extended bloom period even during the toughest growing seasons. This feature suggests 'Raider Gold' is an excellent selection for full sun landscapes.