in ,

Growing Tips for Common Zinnia Varieties

Zinnias truly are some of the most easy-care and lovely flowers to grow, giving the garden an old-fashioned cottage charm. The only issue you may have is deciding upon which variety to grow — like dahlias, zinnias offer a wide range of colors, petal formations, and sizes. Try one of these for your garden; it may just start a zinnia obsession, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Common Zinnia Varieties

Many zinnias can belong to more than one category — for example, single-flowered dwarf, fully double-cut flower zinnias, or even semi-double dahlia-flowered cut flower zinnias. These amazing combinations are much of the reason why gardeners become obsessed.

dreamland dwarf zinnia
  • Dwarf: Although zinnias come in a really wide range of plant heights, dwarf varieties are those that stay at 10-12” tall or shorter. Now, keep in mind, the shorter plant size says nothing about the size of the flower — that depends upon the more specific zinnia variety itself. Dwarf varieties are ideal for borders and tucking into containers.
    • Dreamland Pink
    • Crystal White
    • Thumbelina
  • Cut Flower: Featuring taller forms with strong and sturdy stems, these zinnias are ideal for cutting and flower arranging.
    • Queen Lime Orange
    • Giant Purple
    • Uproar Rose
pink single flowered zinnia
  • Cactus Flowered: Give your garden a little extra special sauce with cactus flowered zinnias — the petals are narrow and rolled or “quilled,” and typically semi-double or fully double flowers.
    • Raggedy Anne
    • Giant Aztec
    • Redman Super
  • Single Flowered: Single flowered zinnias have a center surrounded by one row of petals, giving it a daisy-like appearance
    • Crystal White
    • Profusion Apricot
    • Raspberry Lemonade Mix
orange cactus zinnia
  • Semi-Double Flowered: Semi-double flowered zinnias sport a visible center surrounded by layers of petal rows
    • Profusion Yellow
    • Zahara Red
    • Zahara Raspberry
  • Fully Double Flowered: Fully double flowered zinnias are similar to the semi-double with their multiple rows of petals, but in this case, the center of the flower is completely covered.
    • Orange King
    • El Dorado
    • Giant Salmon Rose
Semi-double flowered zinnia
  • Dahlia-Flowered: These intriguing blooms are double or semi-double flowers with flat petals reminiscent of another blooming favorite, the dahlia.
    • Purple Prince
    • Polar Bear
    • Illumination
dahlia flowered zinnia

Zinnia Growing Tips

  • Sun: Full sun to light afternoon shade in very hot/strong sun climates
  • Water: Medium and regular
  • Soil: Average to rich, well-drained
  • Size: 6” T to 4’+ T
  • Colors: all colors except blue
  • Bloom time: Summer to fall
  • Type: Seed or transplant
  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-8
  • Uses: Cut flower gardens, borders, containers, mass plantings, pollinator gardens, gardens with deer
  • Pest/Disease issues: fungal and mildew — avoid watering on foliage to avoid

Kellogg Garden Organics

All Natural Raised Bed and Potting Mix

**Product not available in AZ, CA, HI, NV, UT. For a comparable product in these states click here.


Share The Garden Love


Bouquet of zinnias with text, "Tips on choosing and growing zinnias"
Large pink zinnias with text, "Zinnias, best varieties to grow"

2 Comments

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *