Growing Guide
 
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Zinnia (edging cultivars)

Annual Flower

Also known as Common Zinnia
Zinnia elegans short
Asteraceae Family

Shorter varieties put this garden classic to work as an edging plant for borders. Plant where there is plenty of air circulation to avoid disease.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: annual

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 0.5 to 1.5 feet

Spread: 0.5 to 1 feet

Bloom time:

  • mid-summer
  • late summer
  • early fall
  • mid-fall

Flower color:

  • red
  • orange
  • yellow
  • violet
  • white
  • pink

Foliage color:

  • medium green
  • dark green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape: upright

Shape in flower: same as above

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • deer resistant
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Mexico.
Attracts:
  • butterflies
  • hummingbirds
Special uses:
  • direct-seeding
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by seed - Start seeds outdoors where desired in spring after frost danger has passed, or indoors 4 weeks before the last spring frost.

Germination temperature: 70 F to 75 F

Days to emergence: 7

Maintenance and care:
Deadhead to prolong blooming. Pinch back regularly to keep bushy. Late in the season, the plants are often badly covered with unsightly mildew, and should be removed.

More growing information: How to Grow Annuals

Pests:
Japanese beetles
Spider mites
Parasitic nematodes
Diseases:
Plant in areas with good air circulation to reduce foliar diseases.

Oedema
Powdery mildew
Alternaria leaf spot
Viral diseases

Varieties
�Profusion� Series: 1� tall plants with small (2� wide) flowers. Powdery mildew resistant.

�Peter Pan� Series: 1� tall plants with large (3 �� wide) flowers in shades of pink, red, white, orange and gold.

�Dasher� Series: 1� tall plans are earlier blooming than 'Peter Pan'. Flowers in shades of pink, red, or orange.

�Thumbelina�: 6� tall compact plans with brightly colored, dense flowers.

�Tropical Snow�: 1� tall plants with creamy white flowers.

�Pulcino� Series: 1 to 1 �� tall plants with 2 �� wide flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, yellow, orange and white.