About
A bushy annual to about 70cm producing sturdy, upright stems topped by solitary blooms. Colours include orange, yellow, red, dark pink and white. About 75 percent of these are crested (scabious-flowered) with a domed centre of small florets, surrounded by a frill of broader petals; the remainder are single-flowered.
About the genus
Zinnia can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs, with branching stems bearing opposite leaves and solitary terminal flower-heads in summer
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil in a warm, sunny, open position
PruningDeadhead to prolong flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in pots in spring or, in warm areas, sown in situ in late spring
Pest resistanceGenerally pest-free
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews and a leaf spot