Zinnias
Zinnia elegans
Zinnias are known as a very easy to grow and beautiful plant! Below, information regarding general plant and growth information, harvesting, domestication, uses, and more are detailed!
Seed Harvesting Code: Green (easy)
Growing Code: White (easy)
General Planting Instructions:
Seeds should be planted 1/4" deep and 12" apart.
Zinnias require full sun, so between 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.
The soil should be kept moist, so plants should be watered a few times a week until the soil is moist about 6 to 8 inches deep.
To avoid root rot, do not overwater!
To avoid powdery mildew, do not get the flowering portion of the plants wet, instead only water near the root! Watering the plants in the morning also helps.
Can be grown in a pot that is a minimum of 12" deep or outdoors
Zinnias are most successful when planted in the location they will mature rather than being sprouted and transplanted.
Zinnia roots can grow to be anywhere between 12" and 24" deep.
Successful in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 10, which includes nearly the entire United States.
Zinnias cannot handle frost, so it is important they are planted after the last spring frost.
General Growth Information:
5-10 days to germination
60-70 days to fruit
Warm Season Annual, must be replanted every year
Grows to about 20"-25" tall
Remove faded blossoms will extend the blooming season.
Harvesting Seeds:
Allow zinnia flowers to mature and dry
Cut off the dry mature heads
Remove the petals: the seeds are attached
Pick off the seeds and make sure they are dry
Store in a cool dry environment
Zinnias cannot handle frost, so it is important that the seeds are picked before the first winter frost.
Domestication History:
Zinnias originated in Mexico, and they are believed to have been cultivated by the Aztecs in the 1500s. The plants made their way from Mexico to Europe in the 1700s where they were bred for all sorts of different traits. Zinnias eventually made their way back to the Americas, and they became a popular addition to North American gardens by the early 1800s.
Uses:
Zinnias are entirely edible, however they are on the bitter side in terms of taste. Because of that, they are better used as floral garnish. They are also commonly made into tea.
Due to their long flowering season and vibrant colors, zinnias are the perfect addition to flower beds or borders.
They last for weeks in fresh bouquets, and they dry just as beautifully!
Zinnias not only catch the attention of human eyes, they attract butterflies and hummingbirds too!
Health Benefits:
While zinnias have been studied for possible benefits such as being antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, and insecticidal, there has not been enough research done to make any conclusions yet.
Fun Facts:
Zinnias were the first flower to be grown in space! NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren first grew them on the International Space Station in 2015.
Zinnias are known as “cut and come again” flowers. Cutting one flower above a pair of leaves will result in two new stems with flower buds in a few days!
In the language of flowers, zinnias represent friendship, specifically thoughts from an absent friend.
From 1931 – 1957, the zinnia was the state flower of Indiana.
Written by Julia Davis, Mount Aloysius Student 2023
Header Image Credit: gardenstips.com
Additional Helpful Resources:
How to Plant and Grow Zinnias | Gardener’s Path
How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Zinnia Flowers | The Old Farmer's Almanac
References:
Boeckmann, C. (2022, June). Zinnias. Almanac.com. https://www.almanac.com/plant/zinnias
Buckner, H. (2022, May 1). How to plant and Grow Zinnias. Gardener's Path. https://gardenerspath.com/plants/flowers/grow-zinnia/
Burlec, A. F., Pecio, Ł., Mircea, C., Cioancă, O., Corciovă, A., Nicolescu, A., Oleszek, W., & Hăncianu, M. (2019). Chemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Zinnia elegans Jacq. Fractions. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 24(16), 2934. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24162934
Fun Flower Facts: Zinnia. Grower Direct Fresh Cut Flowers Presents... (2013, August 23). https://funflowerfacts.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/fun-flower-facts-zinnia/
Loff, S. (2016, January 19). First Flower grown in space station's Veggie Facility. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/first-flower-grown-in-space-stations-veggie-facility
The zinnia - a flower for all gardens. Harvesting History. (2018, February 14). https://harvesting-history.com/the-zinnia-a-flower-for-all-gardens/
Zinnia grow guide. GrowVeg. (2023). https://www.growveg.com/plants/us-and-canada/how-to-grow-zinnia/
Image of Zinnias as the first flower to be grown in space!
Image Credit: https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/first-flower-grown-in-space-stations-veggie-facility