Felder Rushing
Family
Asteraceae
Botanical Name
Zinnia elegans
Plant Common Name
Elegant Zinnia, Tall Garden Zinnia
General Description
No sunny summer flower garden is complete without the sure color of tall garden zinnias. The zinnia is an erect, bushy annual that originates from Mexico. It naturally inhabits open grasslands and it adapted to high heat. Its beauty and ease of growth helped it gain popularity as a garden annual in the early Nineteenth Century, and by 1858 the first double-flowered cultivar was introduced. Since then, hundreds of unique cultivars have been developed.
The tall zinnia is a warm season plant. It germinates readily in warm garden soil, so it is easily planted outdoors. Wild plants bear small, single, purple daisies with conical centers, but cultivated varieties come in a wide array of colors, forms and sizes. The flowers may be single, semi-double or fully double and the petals may be broad and flattened or fluted and pointy. Floral colors range from purple to pink, red, yellow, white, salmon and apricot. Bicolored varieties are also common. Zinnia blooms are very desirable to butterflies. Once pollinated, the flowers turn brown and release brown, flattened seeds that will germinate on their own if allowed to fall to the ground. Deadheading will encourage further bloom and keep plants looking clean and attractive.
Well-suited for both formal and informal garden plantings, tall zinnias grow best in average, well-drained soil and full sun. When the summer temperatures heat up they thrive, especially if provided regular water. As the summer wanes, zinnias often develop the foliar fungal disease, powdery mildew.
These are one of the best annuals for long-lasting cutflowers, and they look beautiful planted among other big, bold summer flowers with lots of color. Dwarf cultivars, like those in the Magellan Series, are better for smaller, tidier beds and containers. In tropical and subtropical climates these can be planted year round.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Annual
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
12"-36" / 30.5cm - 91.4cm
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Width
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Mexico
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Very Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Pink, Salmon, Peach, Lavender
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Fruit Color
Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
