The annual summer flower that I love the most are zinnias. They come in myriad forms and colors, and all are dazzling. Better still, they love summer heat and stand up to drought. And they are so easy to grow! Zinnias can be seeded outdoors directly when all danger of frost has passed. Once it germinates, it goes to flower in a few weeks. They bloom all through the summer and into fall. You can seed a second batch a month later if you want continuous cut flowers.
If you like color and have a sunny spot, then zinnias are a must-have for you. They come in a range of bright and pastel colors, plus bicolors and tricolors. Here are just four of the many low-growing zinnias you might try:
•‘Zahara’ zinnias grow to just 8 to 12 inches. They are resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot. ‘Zahara’ comes in brilliant colors and are self-cleaning—no deadheading required.
•The ‘Profusion’ series of hybrid zinnias are also resistant to powdery mildew and need no deadheading. Zinnia ‘Profusion’ will grow up to 14 inches tall or a little shorter. Prized for its compact form, it features early and continuous blooms all season long.
•‘Lilliput’ zinnia (Zinnia elegans ‘Lilliput’) is one of most popular zinnia varieties, due to its unique pompon flowers that come in a multitude of colors. It makes a great cut flower, grows 18 to 24 inches tall, and is easy to grow. Studies found that ‘Lilliput’ attracted twice the number of butterflies as other zinnia cultivars tested.
Zinnias are best known as the tall-growing flowers that everyone loves to cut. They can grow up to 3 feet tall. Try the ‘Benary’s Giant’ zinnia, which has sturdy stems and large flowers. There is also the popular ‘Cut and Come Again’ and ‘State Fair’ zinnias. I must admit my favorite is the award-winning ‘Queen’ series zinnias with their unusual color combinations and thickly layered petals in semi-double and double flowers. These vigorous plants grow to 40 inches high on strong stems.