Zinnias come in a wide range of sizes and colors.
The plants range from compact 6-inch dwarf selections ideal for edging to stately 40-inch tall specimens perfect for borders and backgrounds.
The variety of flower colors is practically endless, from purest white to darkest burgundy, from earth tones of gold, burnt orange, mahogany and terra cotta, to pale blush colors, such as peach, mauve, lime and creamy yellow, to brilliant shades of cherry red, rose, royal purple and deep crimson. Then there are colorful patterns within some flowers - stripes, edgings, and center splashes.
The blossoms themselves are of several sizes and types - small to jumbo, dahlia-flowered, cactus-flowered, globe-flowered, single-flowered, double-flowered, pom-pom, shaggy with fringed or spidery petals; they can resemble chrysanthemums, peonies, daisies and sunflowers. Descriptive names of plant varieties hint of their appearance: Peppermint Stick, Old Mexico, Thumbelina, Persian Carpet, Zowie Yellow Flame, Purple Prince and White Star.
Zinnias flourish in late summer and fall.
When the once-magnificent and bold perennials have wilted and died back, when the earlier annuals and fair-weather blossoms have passed their peak, you'll find the zinnias, fresh and glorious, brightening your autumnal garden. It's not always easy to plan for autumn blossoms when you're surrounded by the charming perennials of springtime and early summer. But if you remember to plant zinnias in the spring, you'll be rewarded a few months later, and you'll thank yourself for that earlier task.
Zinnias are easy to grow.
They're most often grown as annuals, the seeds planted directly in the soil, right where they're meant to grow. Or if you want an earlier bloom, the seeds can be started indoors and the plants set outside once the danger of frost has passed.
Zinnias are fast growers and quick to bloom; they aren't heavy feeders and don't demand much fertilizing. They like heat and sun, tolerate mild drought and are resistant to most insect damage. Admittedly, in damp or crowded conditions, some zinnias may be susceptible to powdery mildew, although many of the varieties exhibit resistance to this disease.
More Attributes of Zinnias
In case you're not yet convinced of the wonders of the zinnia - there are few other flowers so wonderful for use in bouquets and floral arrangements. And, another feature, zinnias in a garden attract butterflies!
For all these reasons, the National Garden Bureau designated 2011 as The Year of the Zinnia. Each year this organization chooses to highlight one flower based on qualities such as adaptability, versatility and ease in growing. You can be assured their 2011 selection is worthy of your consideration!
So plan to include zinnias in your next garden, you'll be happy you did. Zinnia seeds are widely available from neighborhood nurseries and online seed catalogs.
Cyndy Irvine - Nursing is my profession and history is my passion. I’ve been a registered nurse for over 25 years but am rediscovering my first ...
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