Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

common name: 
zinnia
 | 
scientific name: 
Zinnia
 
elegans
A close-up of blooming zinnias with layered flowers in shades of pink and orange surrounded by green foliage.

Zinnias in bloom, showcasing the bold colors and layered flowers that make them a summer garden favorite.

Image Creadit: 

Zinnias are one of the most reliable and rewarding annual flowers for home gardens, known for their bright colors, long bloom period, and ease of care. Once established, zinnias thrive in full sun and warm summer conditions, producing continuous blooms from early summer until frost. Their upright growth habit and bold flowers make them well-suited for garden beds, borders, and containers. Zinnias are also excellent pollinator plants, frequently visited by butterflies, and they perform best when given good air circulation and consistent moisture.

Charecteristics
Plant type: 
Annual
Hardiness Zones: 
2, 3, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Light Needs: 
Full Sun
Water Needs: 
Moist
Space Requirements: 
12 inches – 3 feet
Height Requirements: 
2–4 feet
Spread Requirements: 
1–2 feet
Bloom Time: 
Summer
Leaf Color: 
Green
Wildlife Attraction: 
Butterflies
Companion Plant Tolerance: 
Drought
Uses: 
Annual
Varieties
Bouquet of Crestar Mix zinnias featuring semi-double, crested blooms with prominent central discs in shades of pink, orange, red, white, peach, and yellow.
'Crestar Mix'

'Crestar Mix' Zinnia is an award-winning blend of crested, or scabiosa-flowered, zinnias with semi-double blooms and a prominent central disc. Flowers appear in a bright mix of pink, orange, red, white, peach, and yellow. Plants grow 18–23 inches tall and mature quickly in 45–50 days, producing large, showy blooms on strong plants that perform well in summer heat and humidity.

Bouquet of Queen Lime zinnias displaying fully double, dahlia-style blooms in a distinctive apple-green color.
'Queen Lime'

'Queen Lime' Zinnia is a tall, vigorous annual that matures in 75–90 days and reaches 30–40 inches in height. It features fully double, dahlia-style blooms in a distinctive apple-green color that holds well throughout the season. This variety performs best in full sun and is well suited for garden beds, borders, and cut-flower use.

Bouquet of Agave zinnias with large, densely petaled blooms in blended buff, coral, gold, peach, pink, and orange tones.
'Agave'

'Agave' zinnia reaches maturity in approximately 75–85 days and grows 30–40 inches tall. Plants produce large, long-lasting blooms in a blend of buff, coral, gold, peach, pink, and orange tones, creating a warm, sunset-like color palette in the garden.