Meet the Zinnia. These eye-catching summer flowers symbolize lasting friendship, goodness and remembrance.
Zinnias bloom in shades of orange, pink, purple, red, white and yellow with leaves of an olive green. The variety of shapes, such as stars, daisies, dahlias, buttons, and domes, of its bloom also make this flower unique. Their beautiful, solitary flowerhead makes them wonderful for bouquets for your home or food for butterflies.
Have a furry animal running around your yard? No problem! Zinnias are non-toxic to dogs and cats!
Zinnias are annuals, so they’ll grow for one season and produce seeds, but the original plant will not come back the following year.
Planting and Care of Zinnias
- I recommend growing zinnias in your garden from the beginning because Zinnias are more likely to struggle to thrive if replanted.
- Pro Tip: If you would like to start them earlier indoors, try peat pots or other containers that can be planted directly in the ground and carefully transplant them while they are young.
- Plant your seeds ¼-inch deep in a location that receives full sun each week for several weeks to extend their flowering period.
- Zinnias can adapt to most soil conditions, but the ideal soil is mixed with compost and has a pH of around 5.5 – 7.5.
- Thin the seedlings in order to space them out by 6 to 18 inches depending on the variety.
- Pro Tip: Cut the seedlings at the soil line with scissors. You may damage the roots of the seedlings left behind if you pull them out.
Zinnias grow quickly, so you will have beautiful bright blooms in about 60 days! Remember to deadhead (trim old flowers) to encourage continuous blooming!
Pro Tip: If you want your zinnias to reseed then let the last flowers of the season mature and scatter the seeds.
Pests and Diseases To Watch Out For
- Good air circulation and minimization of prolonged moisture will help protect the leaves of your zinnias from diseases such as powdery mildew.
- Pests such as caterpillars, mealybugs, and spider mites also cause problems, but avoid spraying your plants unless there is an infestation in your garden.
Love bright pink and yellow florals? Our Striped Floral Welcome garden flag is one of our favorites!