Zinnias are beautiful flowers that are great for butterfly gardens. Its blooms can provide an explosion of colour in your landscape. It is easy to grow as an annual. Plant zinnia anywhere you want color, including in containers, patio gardens, recreational areas, walkways, borders and mass plantings. This plant attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds and also makes great cut flowers. They are one of the simplest flowers to plant since they grow rapidly and produce a lot of blossoms. Growing zinnia plants may be an affordable option, especially if they are grown from seed.
Quick Growing Guide
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
Botanical Family: Asteraceae
En français: Zinnia
Blooms:
Sun / Shade:
Water: Tolerates drought.
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Perennial or Annual
They are a perennial plant in zones 9 to 11, but are a very popular annual plant in zones 2 to 8. Common Zinnia is a very rewarding, brightly coloured plant that blooms from early summer until frost. They are very popular amongst gardeners due to their variety of sizes, colours and forms. As an annual, it is easy to grow.
Credit: Jebulon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
How to Grow Zinnia elegans
Sow zinnia seeds directly into the sunny flower bed after the last frost date has passed. Plant seeds in loam or high organic soils that are well-draining. They require full sun and grow well in many different places such as in pots, in cottage gardens, or in cut gardens. Note that their developing roots do not like to be disturbed.
Companion Plants
Companion plant suggestions include Marigold, Dusty Miller, Sanvitalia, Cosmos.
Caring for Common Zinnia
Seedlings, like a majority of plants, require more frequent watering than mature ones. Watering young plants with an inch of water will result in healthy roots, which will help your plant flourish. Zinnias require less water later in their life cycle as they develop and are considered drought tolerant.
Pruning Zinnia
Zinnias should be pruned by cutting all the way down to the nearest branch. Pruning your zinnias will increase production and promote thicker growth, resulting in a lovely crop of blooms throughout the growing season.
Other
Zinnia is susceptible to powdery mildew, leaf spots and root rot.
The Aztecs originally called them “plants that are hard on the eyes” because of their bright and colourful flowers.
The zinnia is named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist.
