Zinnia is one of the most carefree and colorful annuals you could grow.
The plant’s blooms are a pollinator favorite and make gorgeous cut flowers.
Zinnia is an extremely tough annual with varieties of many shapes, sizes, and colors.
Peter Krumhardt.
Additionally, shorter cultivars are lower-maintenance than their taller counterparts, as they require less frequent deadheading.
Gardeners often grow clumps of several zinnia plants together for a stunning effect.
Shorter varieties have more of a mounding appearance and are attractive front-of-the-border options.
Credit: Graham Jimerson
Regardless of your chosen variety, plant zinnia in an area where it will receive full sun.
It can flower in partial shade but will produce fewer blooms and be more vulnerable to disease.
Zinnia grows equally well in a garden bed or a container, but the soil must be well-draining.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
If it isn’t, the plant will be susceptible to root rot.
Zinnia’s strong, long stems make the plant a fantastic candidate for cut flowers.
Since zinnia blooms come in a rainbow of colors, they’re enchanting additions to floral arrangements.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
They germinate in 7-10 days and should be at least 4 inches tall before being transplanted outside.
When working with zinnia, never handle the plant by the stemsonly by the rootball.
The seeds germinate in 7-10 days.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Zinnia Care Tips
Zinnia is a relatively low-maintenance plant when grown in its preferred conditions.
Light
Because the plant originates from prairie options, zinnia prefersfull sun.
This environment nurtures the best bloom development and helps keep the plant dry.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Zinnia doesn’t handle wet roots well.
Amend poor soil before planting for the best flower production.
Temperature and Humidity
Zinnia seeds germinate between 70F and 75F.
Credit: King Au
Zinnia isn’t fond of high humidity but will tolerate it.
Fertilizer is especially important in containers filled with a soilless potting medium.
The occasional liquid fertilizer system helps zinnia bloom consistently throughout the growing season.
Credit: Justin Hancock
In all cases, follow the product instructions for the proper quantity of fertilizer.
Pruning
Deadhead spent bloomsregularly to keep a tidy appearance and encourage additional zinnia blooms.
To encourage branching and more flowers in tall varieties, pinch the growing tip from young plants.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Note that pinched plants will be shorter and may bloom later.
No additional pruning is needed as zinnia is an annual that must be replanted yearly.
Potting and Repotting
The shorter varieties of bedding zinnia are excellent container plants.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Sow a few seeds outside in a container immediately after the weather warms, thinning as needed later.
Avoid growing the tallest zinnia types in pots.
While this pesky fungus probably won’t kill the plants, it does diminish their beauty.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Leaf spot and blight are two othercommon diseasesfound in zinnia.
Similar to powdery mildew, these conditions are brought on by fungi.
Control methods are the same: Remove any debris from the base of the plants to keep them clean.
Credit: Matthew Benson
Additionally,Japanese beetleslove zinnia.
Gardeners have turned to beetle traps for years with mixed results.
If there are just a few of these insects on your zinnia, hand-pick them off.
Credit: Doug Hetherington
How to Propagate Zinnia
Saving zinnia seeds is an excellent way to start next year’s plants.
Store the seeds in a dry, warm area until the weather warms in spring.
Zinnia can also be propagated in water withcuttingsin about 3 to 4 weeks.
Place the container in a warm area with bright light but not full sun.
When a root structure develops and the weather warms, transplant the new zinnia to the garden.
This zinnia variety grows to 38 inches tall and 2 feet wide.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
It grows to 16 inches tall.
‘Parasol Mix’ Zinnia
Zinnia elegans’Parasol Mix' bears fully double, petal-filled flowers in various shades.
The plant grows to 12 inches tall.
Credit: Illustration by Mavis Augustine Torke
It grows to 18 inches tall and 10 inches wide.
‘Scarlet Flame’ Zinnia
Zinniaelegans’Scarlet Flame' offers double red flowers on a vigorous, 42-inch-tall plant.
It’s a disease-resistant, heat-loving plant that grows to 18 inches tall and wide.
Credit: Illustration by Helen Smythe
It’s very disease-resistant.
It’s a disease-resistant, heat-loving variety.
The annual typically self-seeds prolifically, so you only have to plant it once.
Because it develops surprisingly large thorns, it’s best to keep spider flower away from walkways.
Plant seedlings in spring after all danger of frost has passed.
Spider flower does best in moderately rich, well-drained soil.
Be careful about fertilizing, or you’ll have extremely tall, floppy plants.
Group spider flower plants in clusters of six or more for the best effect.
French Marigold
French marigoldproduces frilly flowers, and some boast a distinctive “crested eye.”
French marigold does best in full sun with moist, well-drained soil and will flower all summer.
The plant may reseed, returning year after year in spots where it’s happy.
Salvia
Many gardens have at least one variety ofsalviagrowing in them.
Most salvias don’t like cool weather, so plant them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Garden Plans for Zinnia
Butterfly Garden Plan
Thesebreathtaking flowersare irresistible to butterflies.
Blossoms offer nectar to adult butterflies, while leafy foliage nourishes the larvae.
Hot Summer Garden Plan
Heat and humidity are no match for this hot-summer garden plan!
It features a mix ofannuals and perennialsthat flourish in steamy weather.
Plus, their consistently blooming flowers in colorful hues seem to get brighter as temperatures climb.
The raised beds are filled with amix of vegetables, herbs, and flowersthat are beautiful and bountiful.
Additionally, shrubs and perennials comprise a hedge around the entire garden to complete the French-inspired design.
After they start blooming, zinnia plants continue to bloom until frost kills them.
As annuals, they die naturally after a year, even in areas without frost.
Cut zinnia in the morning after the plant’s blooms are fully open.
Unlike many other flowers, zinnias don’t continue to open after they are cut.
Don’t cut open flowers too soon, though, or the heads will droop.
If the flower is rigid on the stem, it’s ready to cut.
