Sakata zinnia wins Fleuroselect Gold Medal award

Sakata’s zinnia ‘Profusion Double White Improved’ earned a Fleuroselect Gold Medal for the 2027 season, adding to its previous All-America Selections Gold Medal recognition in the United States.

The variety becomes one of a small group within Sakata’s Profusion and Profusion Double series to receive top honors from both organizations. Within the series, it is the fourth to achieve dual awards, the sixth Fleuroselect Gold Medal and the fifth All-America Selections Gold Medal.

Zinnia ‘Profusion Double White’

For greenhouse and bedding plant growers, the selection offers traits aimed at consistent production and retail performance. The company reports the variety has improved flower size, higher petal count and longer-lasting blooms compared to the earlier Double White. The series is also known for disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance and a compact, uniform habit suited for packs, pots and landscape programs.

In Fleuroselect trials, judges cited continuous flowering, strong basal branching and larger blooms than existing commercial types.

The variety is being sold worldwide, expanding availability for professional growers across multiple markets.

Fleuroselect, founded in 1970, evaluates new ornamental varieties through cultural trials at multiple European sites and awards gold medals to entries demonstrating exceptional novelty and performance.

All-America Selections, established in 1932, conducts comparative trials across the United States and Canada and grants gold medals only to varieties that significantly outperform other winners.