Zinnias have always been popular summer flowers and with their variety of colors and blooming joy for every gardener. We introduce the zinnia and give tips for cultivating it in your own garden.
A summer flower found in almost every cottage garden is the zinnia (Zinnia elegans). It is sometimes used as a cut flower as it produces numerous colorful flowers throughout the summer. In this article you will learn everything about the zinnia, its characteristics, its requirements for location and care as well as details on sowing and planting.
Zinnias: origin and properties
Zinnia belongs to the large daisy family (Asteraceae) - just like daisies (Bellis perennis) and dahlias (Dahlia). The genus Zinnia contains about 20 species that grow as annuals, perennials or as a semi-shrub. We mainly plant Zinnia elegans. This annual summer flower originally comes from Mexico and is also found in other areas of Central and South America. The zinnia was named by the famous Swedish botanist Carl von Linné in honor of the Göttingen anatomist and botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn.
Zinnia is an annual summer flower that grows upright and bushy. The leaves of the zinnia are characteristically covered with short hairs and are therefore rough to the touch. They sit opposite each other directly on the flower stalk and are roughly triangular in shape. A terminal flower forms at the end of the stalk, which depending on the variety can be double or simple and can be colored in many colors from white to yellow, orange and red tones to dark pink. In strong sunlight, however, strong colors fade quite quickly. The flowering period for zinnias is from July to September, sometimes even into October.
Tip: Zinnias are bee-friendly ornamental flowers as they provide nectar to eager pollinators like bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The zinnia flower compensates for the relatively small amount of sugary sap per flower with its high flowering rate.
The most beautiful zinnia varieties and species
If you want to plant zinnias, there is a huge selection of varieties and also a few different species of the genus Zinnia. They differ mainly in the color, shape and size of the flowers as well as the growth height. While you can also fall back on high-growing breeds for bed plantings, small dwarf zinnias are better suited for the balcony. We present you with a selection of the most beautiful zinnia varieties for all locations.
All mentioned varieties belong to the species Zinnia elegans.
- ˈLiliputˈ: Low zinnia mixture of different colored, small plants with a growth height of only 50 - 60 cm. The flowering period extends from July to October.
- ˈPeter Panˈ: Dwarf zinnia with a height of only 30 cm and about 8 cm large flowers in orange-yellow to blood-red color.
- ˈPolarbärˈ: Almost completely double white zinnia with large flowers and plants up to one meter tall.
- ˈGiant Cactusˈ: 60 - 80 cm high zinnia variety with semi-double, large flowers and slightly curled petals reminiscent of cactus dahlias.
- ˈThumbelinaˈ: Smallest of all short zinnia varieties with a height of only 15 - 20 cm and dahlia-like flowers in a wide variety of colours. Ideal mini zinnia for small balcony boxes and pots.
- ˈWhirlygigˈ: Colorful mix of two-tone zinnias in various combinations of pink, orange, red and white, growing to around 60 - 70 cm tall.
- Zinnia angustifolia : Narrow-leaved zinnia with lavender-like leaves and small red, pink, deep orange, yellow or white flowers. The dainty plants reach a height of about 30 - 50 cm.
Planting Zinnias
Zinnias are extremely rewarding flowering plants if you meet their demands in terms of location, sowing and planting. We give important tips for a successful cultivation and planting of the zinnia.
The right planting time for zinnias
Zinnias are freshly sown as annual ornamental plants and only planted out after the last frost in mid-May. Cultivation takes place in March on the warm windowsill, but young plants can also be bought and planted out after the ice saints.
The right location for zinnias
The ideal location for zinnias is generally sunny, sheltered from the wind and warm.The ornamental plant prefers to thrive in loamy-sandy, nutrient-rich soil that stores moisture well but never causes waterlogging. Whether in the garden, in a pot or on the balcony - zinnias thrive outdoors as well as in tubs, as long as the location and care are right. However, the pretty summer bloomers are not very self-tolerant. Therefore, the location or the potting soil should be changed every year.
Tip: Zinnias do not tolerate heavy rain, as this will damage the flowers and the tall varieties in particular can fall over. A rain-protected location is therefore important.
Sowing, transplanting and planting zinnias
Zinnias can be grown indoors between February and April, because their seedlings do not tolerate any cold and love it warm. To sow zinnias, first prepare a seed tray or small pot and fill it with a nutrient-poor potting soil such as our Plantura organic herb and seed soil. During and in the first period after germination, zinnia seedlings require very few nutrients and are encouraged to form strong roots by a nutrient-poor soil. Our growing soil offers a loose structure and a water-storing environment for the sensitive seedlings, which does not contain any peat, which is harmful to the climate. Now sow the seeds of the zinnia about 0.5 to 1 cm deep into the soil, water them and place the seed tray or pot on the bright window sill at 16 to 20 °C. Always keep the soil moist but not wet. Germination occurs after about 10 to 20 days. As soon as the first real leaves form after the cotyledons, pricking can begin. Now place the young plants in nutrient-rich soil in individual pots and let the zinnias grow a little cooler at 12 to 15 °C until planting out.
After the ice saints, the young plants can be planted outdoors from mid-May to the end of June. Whether in a pot, balcony box or bed - leave a planting distance of 20 to 30 cm between the individual zinnias. The bushy growth of the zinnia usually closes the gaps quite quickly. For planting on the terrace and balcony, choose planters with good water drainage and a sufficient size. For individual zinnias, a pot should be used depending on the vigorhold at least 5 to 10 liters volume. Fill the bottom of your planters with a drainage layer of about 3 cm made of coarse gravel or expanded clay and fill it with a nutrient-rich potting soil, such as our Plantura organic potting soil. The sustainably produced potting soil contains all the essential nutrients to promote lush flowering and plant he alth. Now place the young zinnia plants in the ground, paying attention to the planting distance. Then you have to water it vigorously so that the soil is flushed to the roots and the zinnias can grow well.
Summary: Planting Zinnias
- Sowing: February - April
- Germination: after 10 - 20 days
- Planting period: mid-May - end of June
- Planting distance: 20 - 30 cm
- Location: Sunny, sheltered from the wind and warm
- Soil: loamy-sandy and rich in nutrients
- Cultivation in beds and in tubs possible
Caring for zinnias
Zinnias are thirsty garden dwellers and need a regular water supply. The soil should always be kept evenly moist for them, but never get wet and form waterlogging, otherwise root rot can occur. The magnificently flowering zinnias can be cut continuously for the vase throughout the flowering period. To do this, use a sharp knife and cut the flower stalk back to a pair of leaves, because this is where the plant will branch out again and form flowers again. The flowers will keep fresh in water for about a week or two.
Faded zinnia flowers should also be removed regularly to keep them flowering - unless you intend to collect seeds.
Zinnias, like many summer flowers, depend on a regular supply of nutrients and should therefore be well fertilized. When fertilizing zinnias in pots or balcony boxes, we particularly recommend using a liquid nutrient fertilizer such as our Plantura organic flower and balcony fertilizer. About every two weeks, 15 to 25 ml are added to 5 liters of irrigation water and are therefore simply applied when watering. The nutrients it contains reach the roots directly and are quickly absorbed. Even acute deficiency symptoms, such as yellowing of the lower leaves due to a lack of nitrogen, can be quickly remedied in this way.
Overwintering zinnias: Are zinnias hardy?
Zinnias are not hardy here because they do not tolerate any frost. As is usual with annual plants anywaythe zinnia dies completely after the seeds have ripened, so it cannot be overwintered indoors. The plant can only make it into the coming year in the form of seeds.
Propagating Zinnias
Zinnias can be propagated by their seeds. In order for seeds to form, however, they must not be filled flowers, as these are sterile. Flowers visited by bees and other pollinators are crossed with other zinnia varieties, so that the original variety of the mother plant is often no longer in the seed. However, for those who do not prioritize varietal purity, they may be able to look forward to magnificent new color combinations from home-grown seeds. Faded flowers must of course be left standing and must not be cut to obtain seeds. The numerous elongated achenes of the zinnia ripen by October and can be cut off together with the flower head in late autumn when the inflorescence has dried up and dried indoors at room temperature for two to three weeks. As soon as the seeds trickle out on their own after a little rubbing, separate them from the remains of the flowers and store them in paper bags in a dry and cool place. Zinnia seeds can be germinated for about four years if stored properly.
Common pests on zinnias
Slugs love zinnias and can quickly kill young plants completely. Adult zinnia plants, on the other hand, are hardly endangered.
Protection against snails makes sense, especially in the first few weeks after planting. In addition, aphids and spider mites cavort on the summer bloomers from time to time. Outdoors, however, beneficial insects such as the ladybug quickly limit explosive proliferation. For more aphid control tips, see our feature article.
Are zinnias poisonous?
Zinnias are not poisonous per se, but they can trigger allergic reactions on skin contact with the plant sap. This is due to alkaloids such as nicotine and various terpenes that it contains. Ideally, you should always wear gloves when cutting the zinnia. The flowers of the zinnia, on the other hand, are edible and also offer a real feast for the eyes as a decoration or as an ingredient in blossom butter.
A distant relative of the zinnia is the annual sunflower, which can grow to amazing heights. We introduce you to the popular summer flower and deal with all topics from variety selection to planting and care toHarvest.