Every gardener seems to have a flower they return to year after year without hesitation. For me, it’s zinnias. They are cheerful, resilient and endlessly generous. They are the kind of flower that asks for very little yet gives so much in return.
From their vibrant range of colors to their ability to bloom steadily through the hottest days of summer, zinnias bring both beauty and reliability to the garden.
Over time, they’ve become more than just a seasonal favorite. They have become a constant in my garden – bright, sturdy and wonderfully dependable. In the heat of summer, when other blooms begin to face, zinnias seem to flourish.
They fill empty spaces, attract butterflies and provide armfuls of color for bouquets.
Year after year, they remind me that gardening doesn’t have to be complicated to be deeply rewarding.
So let’s jump in and go over important details of why I love zinnias and why you should consider them for your garden.
1. Zinnias are incredibly easy to grow
Over the years, I have started many varieties of flowers inside and some outside. I would buy packets of what looked like pretty flowers and give them a shot. When I first grew zinnias, to be quite honest, I thought they would be common, not exciting and probably something I would grow one year and never again.
That was not the case. I followed the instructions and planted them after the last risk of frost had passed and up they shot. They grew with strong stems and then the blooms began.
Bloom after bloom.
Long lasting blooms.
No need for staking.
This is the type of low maintenance flower I love!
What started as an experiment turned into a main staple of my flower gardens, especially my cottage flower gardens.
Here is the skinny on growing zinnias. You can start them indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost to have earlier blooms or you can direct seed them in late spring. In both situations, plant them 1/4 inch deep in seedling potting soil. Dampen the soil but do not have it soggy.
Then when all danger of frost has passed, harden them off by bringing them outside a little bit at a time, gradually lengthening the time that they are outside until they are outside all day.
Then transplant them in full sun with well drained soil.
I fertilize them with a bloom boosting fertilizer.
The are annual flowers so you will need to plant them each year.
2. Zinnias germinate quickly
While some flower seeds take forever and you can often wonder if they are every going to germinate, zinnias germinate in 3 to 5 days! No more wondering if the seeds expired or if you did something wrong.
3. Zinnias thrive in summer heat
In my area, we have the hottest, driest summers often around 40C/104F. The heat and direct sun cause many flowers to wilt and slow down but not zinnias. They seem to love the heat and their blooms continue to look fantastic.
4. Zinnias are suprisingly weather resilient
I think I may live in one of the windiest places. We are on the side of a mountain above a lake and even on a non-windy day, as the temperatures cool down, the wind picks up. As well, we seem to be in direct line of every weather system that blows in and the winds are fierce.
I have to painstakingly stake so many of my flowers but not zinnias (as I am sure you can see in all the photos). They have a rather thick stem and it is strong. The winds blow, the flowers sway a bit and there is never any damage. Meanwhile even with strong stakes, dahlias, sunflowers and other flowers will blow down.
5. Zinnias bloom all summer long
Zinnias do not take break like other flowers such as sweet peas, snapdragons, etc., that prefer the not-so-hot days.
They take around 75 days to reach maturity and then they last until frost hits. Zinnias begin blooming in my area in early summer (June) and I am still enjoying zinnias until the first frost in late October or early November.
6. The variety of colors is endless
Zinnia flowers come in a range of colors from white to the deepest of maroons. There are even green zinnias but the only color of zinnia I have not seen is a blue zinnia. Below are a series of photos of some of the different colored zinnias I have grown.
The zinnias below were my first attempt at growing them. They came from a mixed packet of seeds and I was amazed by all the bright colors and long stems.
The zinnias in the three photos below are all Agave Zinnias from Johnny’s Seeds. One packet of zinnia seeds produced all of these colorful flowers.
Below is a very unique cactus style zinnia.
The zinnia below is Ballerina Zinnia from Johnny’s Seeds.
Some zinnias have striped petals and some have petals that start a deep color and fade to a lighter color.
Swallowtail Garden Seeds must have the largest selection of colors that I have ever seen. Click here and see their 127 different colors.
And when a zinnia can’t make up it’s mind what color it wants to be, it might be both!
7. They come in a range of shapes and sizes
Not only do zinnias come in a wide range of colors, they also come in a variety of different shapes such as:
- flat, single-row daisy-like types.
- full double daisy types.
- pompon types that are small with very compact petals.
- multi-petal thinner petals that twist which are known as the cactus style.
- scabiosa like which have a dome of tiny, tubular petals in the center surrounded by a ring of larger petals.
The size of the blooms range from 2 inches wide to 6 inches wide.
Zinnias also vary in height. There are dwarf type called Short Stuff series that are only 8 to inches tall. Then there are taller varieties that go right up to 56 inches tall and there are all sizes in between too!
8. Zinnias make incredible cut flowers
Thankfully zinnias are not the type of flowers that wilt when you cut them and put them in a vase. No, zinnias look fabulous for so long!!! Also with their long sturdy stems you can make beautiful arrangements with them.
Pair them with lavender, snapdragons, and dahlias and you will have beautiful cut flower arrangements.
9. Zinnias dry beautifully
Zinnias pretty much dry themselves right on the stem but if you want to preserve them while they are at their peak of perfection, I would use silica.
Look how well this enormous flower head dried.
Even this pot of spent blooms that I deadheaded in order to achieve more blooms looks beautiful.
10. You can collect their seeds
It is so easy to collect zinnia seeds, simply let the flower heads dry out and then pull the petals away and you will find spear head shaped seeds. Then store them in a cool, dry place until you need them next year.
11. Pollinators love them
In my garden, one of the favorite flowers that the bees, monarch butterflies and other beneficial insects love are zinnias. Just look how many photos I have of the bees loving these beautiful flowers.
12. Zinnias fill in spaces abundantly
Give a zinnia some space and it will fill it! My problem early on was spacing zinnias too close together. Then I learned that they love to grow big and before you know it they will fill a planter, garden bed, or a pot.
Zinnias are such a hardworking plant. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
13. Zinnias photograph beautifully
You probably already noticed how beautifully they photograph but here are a few more photos to show how lovely they look whether at sunrise, mid-day or sunset.
During sunset look how the color graduation of the zinnia below is emphasized.
14. Zinnias feel nostalgic
When I see zinnias they remind me of cottage gardens which remind me of the good ole days when everyone had white picket fences and pathways lined with colorful flowers.
Zinnias have been popular in flowers gardens for so long and no doubt it is because they are easy to grow and don’t need a lot of upkeep.
During golden hour they come alive with their soft classic beauty. Even in a planter overloaded with flowers (as seen above) they are a show stopper but in a subdued way.
Another reason they feel nostalgic is because they look so good with other tried and true companion plants like snapdragons and cosmos.
In closing…
There are many beautiful flowers to choose from, but zinnias hold a special place in my heart. They remind me that gardening doesn’t have to be complicated to be rewarding. They need such little effort – pop them in the ground, keep them watered and simply enjoy! Even a beginner gardener can have great success with these cheery flowers.
With their resilient nature, vibrant and mellow colors and generous blooms, zinnias bring joy to the garden all summer long. The beauty they bring to my garden is the main reason that they are my go-to flower.
Year after year, they continue to prove that sometimes the simplest flowers are the ones we treasure most.
Looking for more garden inspiration?
Below are links to other garden related posts. Just click on the title to be redirected to them.
Raised Garden Beds and How to Build Them
19 of the Best Garden Decor Ideas
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