Zinnia - Old Fashioned Annual Flower For Your Garden © 2006

Zinnia
Cut and Come Again
Youth and Old Age Plant

Zinnia elegans
Zinnia angustifolia
Zinnia haaaeana

Warm weather annual flower

Zinnias are available in just about every color but blue. There are three main species from which all the modern hybrids are descended. Flower heights range from six inches to forty eight inches. Zinnias prefer full sun, are usually not particular as to soil type. Zinnias like it hot. The zinnia originates in Mexico; some are native to southern Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. It was introduced into Europe in 1796. The zinnia was named after the Professor of Botany at Gottingen, Johann Gottfried Zinn.

The zinnia is valuable as a cut flower, border plant, window box plant and flower beds. Flower sizes range from two inches to five inches, depending upon the variety. The best flowering will occur in hot, sunny summers. Cool, cloudy conditions will cause the plants to sulk. When the plants are happy, they will bloom all summer until frost in the fall. Regular deadheading encourages more bloom.

The zinnia may be sown directly in the spot it is to bloom after the weather and soil has warmed. Germination should occur in five to ten days and the plants will develop pretty quickly. Seed may also be sown in a cold frame, hot bed, or greenhouse. Sow about four to six weeks before the last frost in your area.

Zinnia elegans
This is the common garden zinnia. Height range in modern cultivars ranges from six inches to 48 inches in every color but blue. Again, depending upon the cultivar, flower size can be from one inch to over five inches.

Zinnia angustifolia
These are smaller plants than elegans, usually twelve to sixteen inches in height. Sometimes the seed companies list this as Zinnia linearis. Some modern hybrids are planted as annual ground covers and make excellent hanging baskets.

Zinnia haaaeana
This zinnia grows to twenty four inches tall with two and one half inch flowers.

Some popular varieties:

Lilliput
Pom-pom type flowers about one and one half inches in diameter. The plants grow about twenty inches tall. There is a wide range of bright colors available. This is a variety of the elegans family.

Dreamland
This zinnia grows twelve inches tall and has a very large palette of colors from which to choose. This is a variety of the elegans family.

Persian Carpet
Persian Carpet grows to sixteen inches tall and is very heat and drought tolerant. Double and semi double flowers in mahogany and red are two inches in diameter. This is a variety of the haaaeana family.

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