Maureen Gilmer
Family
Asteraceae
Botanical Name
Zinnia
Plant Common Name
Zinnia
General Description
Beloved by both butterflies and gardeners, colorful zinnia flowers add vibrant charm to summer gardens everywhere. There are approximately 20 species in the genus Zinnia. They originate from the warm regions of the southwestern United States, Central and South America, but most originate from Mexico. The plants may be annuals or perennials and naturally exist in scrub, meadows or dry grasslands.
Zinnias typically have opposite green leaves with no leaf stems. The simple leaves are oval to elliptical and often have surface hairs. The leaves are supported by hollow, branched stems, and pretty, colorful daisies are borne at the stem tips. The solitary, rounded daisies can be very small or large and may have petals in single, double or semi-double rows. Flower color can be yellow, orange, green, white, red, brown, burgundy, purple or bi-colored. The fruits/seeds are flat, dark and smooth.
Zinnias have long been cultivated for their lovely flowers, so there are many cultivars to choose from. The most common garden selections are of Zinna elegans. This Mexican native normally has purple flowers, but cultivated varieties come in all colors. The smaller Mexican zinnia (Zinnia haageana) is well-branched with cute, white and orange daisies.
Most zinnias grow best in full sun and average, well-drained soil. They are frost sensitive and should be planted after the danger of cold has past. Generally, most are heat tolerant and can withstand periods of drought. Zinnias are wonderful summer annuals for most areas with warm summers, however in tropical and subtropical regions the combination of heat, humidity and abundant rain can induce rot and mildew. Plant them in the fall and late winter in these regions. Deadheading or the removal of spent flowers keeps the plants looking neat and encourages bloom production. Zinnias are common bedding plants and look great in containers. They are great as long-lasting cut flowers.
