Zinnias are prized for flower beds, borders, containers and cutting gardens. They are perhaps at their best in mass plantings.
With their dependability and dizzying array of flower color and heights, zinnias easily earn their excellent reputation. There are more than a dozen species of zinnias, members of the Asteraceae family, but only three or four are commonly grown: Zinnia elegans, Z. angustifolia, Z. haageana and Z. tenuifolia.
Zinnia elegans, the common zinnia, is the most widely known species and has the widest range of flower size (1/2-inch to 5-inch diameter), flower color (every color except true blue, brown or black), flower form (single, double, cactus, etc.) and height (8 to 48 inches). This native of Mexico requires regular deadheading and consistent moisture to bloom continuously throughout the summer. If not planted in a sunny location with good air circulation, plants often get powdery mildew. These zinnias are good for cut flowers as well as bedding plants. A small sampling of available cultivars is described below:
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