Zinnias have shiny colours, robust stems, and lengthy vase life. It’s not too late to begin seeds in June. Sprinkle them in full solar and also you’ll have seedlings in days! Uncover several types of zinnias from quick to tall, from single colour to bi-color.
Whereas there are various flowers which may be extra elegant in the summertime backyard, zinnias rank excessive in “happiness issue” with their cheerful crayon colours. Plus, they’ll thrive throughout the lengthy scorching days of summer time, when different flowers have given up, and proceed to flower profusely till frost lastly kills them within the fall. Warmth- and drought-resistant, they hold branching willingly so the extra you chop them to share with family and friends, the extra flowers you’ll have. Speak about a hard-working flower!
Types of Zinnia Flowers
Zinnias are available in a variety of heights, flower types, and each colour besides blue. There’s even a inexperienced one referred to as ‘Envy’.
The zinnias mostly present in our gardens are Zinnia elegans which vary in peak from the tiny 6-inch tall ‘Thumbelina’ to the four-foot-tall-plus ‘Benary’s Giants’. They will have semi-double, absolutely double, dahlia-like flowers, or ones with rolled, quill-like petals.
Varieties like ‘Peppermint Stick’ and ‘Sweet Stripe’ are multi-colored.
AAS winner ‘Zowie Yellow Flame’ is an eye-popping gold with an iridescent magenta heart.
Subsequent up is Zinnia angustifolia, additionally referred to as narrrow leaf zinnia. It’s a low-growing species with small golden yellow, white, or orange single flowers. AAS winner ‘Crystal White’ is simply 8 to 10 inches tall making it well-liked for low entrance borders or for rising in hanging baskets, window containers, and different containers. They’re so warmth and drought resistant that they’re typically planted in “hell strips”—the areas alongside parking tons, sidewalks, and roadways the place full solar and further warmth radiating from the pavement fries most crops.
Zinnia Profusion Cherry
Hybrid zinnias within the Profusion sequence are a cross between elegans and angustifolia. One other AAS profitable group of crops, they’ve one of the best traits of each mother and father: dazzling colours, steady bloom, and warmth, drought, and illness resistance. They develop 12 inches tall, are naturally branching, and kind neat clumps lined with flowers.
Rising Zinnias
Zinnias are straightforward to develop from seed. Choose the sunniest spot you might have, enrich the soil with slightly compost, and sow the seeds about 1/2 inch deep. We’ve know people who simply sprinkle the seeds—and voila!
It’s not too late to begin seeds in June. The seeds are giant and have a excessive germination price. Direct-seeded, they may catch as much as transplanted ones and be in bloom in about 6 to 8 weeks.
They’ll sprout in 5 to 10 days. Skinny them to face about 9 to 12 inches aside. That is one plant you gained’t must fuss over. They’re proud of an inch of water every week and wish little further fertilizing. Quickly you’ll be selecting armloads of flowers!
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for an indestructible bedding plant, a tall hedge of flowers for reducing, or one thing in between, there are lots of of zinnias to select from. Since they’re annuals, you aren’t “locked in” and yearly you’ll be able to attempt a brand new selection.
Learn extra on the Almanac’s Zinnia Develop Information.
