Flower subject of the day...Zinnias...1/21/20

[plantdoctor]

I know many of you are yawning and saying that zinnias are boring...ho hum.  I grew zinnias for years and then failed to grow any when I got caught up in starting so many new plants for my yard and containers.  I finally realized that I was missing zinnias and the butterflies, bees, and birds were too!  There are so many new varieties of zinnias and I tried a few last year.  They are just as beautiful and dependable as the old garden variety.

I love the shorter varieties for border plants and also in containers.  Profusion and zahara are a couple short varieties.  Last year Leslie shared seed with me for a double zahara that was gorgeous!  

This is a new variety offered at Swallowtail garden seeds....

Preciosa Mix

Zinnia Seeds

Preciosa Mix is a new hybrid zinnia in a lively blend of eight Preciosa colors: Pink, Rose, Red, Scarlet, Light Yellow, Orange, Yellow and White.



Fully double, 4 in. dahlia-flowered blooms begin flowering early in the season, and put on a spectacular, summer-long show. Compact, 10-12 in. tall, well-branched plants are uniform in shape and size. Garden beds, patio containers, and borders will welcome Preciosa zinnias for providing a long season of vibrant color.



www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com/annuals/zinnias/preciosa-mix-zinnia-seeds.html#addsearch=dwarf%20double%20zahara%20zinnia

Here is a picture of one the double zahara Leslie shared with me last year.  The blooms are bigger than they look in the picture.

[SunshineFL10a]

love zinnias. They are so easy to grow. I usually sow seeds also on the Fourth of July for late summer, early fall blooms so I can enjoy them after most other flowers are spent.

[grandmazn8]

I've always loved zinnias. My problem has been deciding on a few favorites to grow. I can always direct sow them, which is a plus for me.

[starshell]

I don't think zinnias are boring at all. I usually get some of the shorter ones to go along the sidewalk by the deck. They bloom well into fall here and the butterflies love them.

[flowerpowerz5]

I love Zinnia's and very easy to grow. Easy to save seed from to.

I do have a question though how do you say zinnia. I say it with a long e for the I and short A at the end zinnea. My sil says it zinnia with a short A at the end sounds like she doesn't put an I in there. I had to ask her what flower she was talking about. Just curious.

[luvmyb_b]

I LOVE zinnias regardless of the size of the bloom or height of the plant. I learned the hard way to not dismiss them out of hand because they seem so ordinary. They are anything but! There are so many varieties that perhaps one year I may try to just sow and grow only zinnias. My whole reason for wanting to garden has been to attract birds and butterflies to my yard and there isn't a better plant for doing that. There are certainly other flowers that have flashier blooms, but zinnias are incomparable in my book. Thanks for this SOD today, Charlene! Now I am really getting excited to start my seeds. Too bad I can't start the zinnias for a couple more months. 

Sandy, I am sure I say it wrong when I pronounce the word 'zinnia' as ZEEN YA, but that is the way my mother always said it and it's been a hard habit to break. I think it is supposed to be ZINN EA, but I could be wrong. I wonder if it is a regional thing the way people pronounce certain flower names.  

[plantdoctor]

[wilderness]

Gee, I pronounce something almost right.  I read everyone saying they are easy to grow and I just don't have much luck with them.  They don't bush out for me.  I have tried nipping out the center when they are small but that doesn't do much for them.

Bet

[plantdoctor]

checkmark._16_black checkmark._16_black I found this information when looking for facts on zinnias...there's many reasons we should plant them.  I know the Amish have rows of them in their gardens and now I know there is a purpose...


What Are the Benefits of Zinnias?

Beautiful and Easy

Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow. Nurseries and home improvement stores often have zinnias available for transplant, but you can grow them easily from seed. Sow them from four to six weeks before the last expected frost in fertile well-drained soil. They are mostly resistant to insects and disease. They also don't need much care, just simple weeding. Pinching spent blossoms encourages new blooms. Zinnias make beautiful border plants and cut flowers.



Attract and Benefit Pollinators

Zinnias attract and benefit pollinators. Zinnias themselves are pollinated by insects, typically bees and butterflies. Their bright colors draw pollinators to a garden. Monarch butterflies, in particular, love zinnias and pollinate them and use them for food and egg-laying habitat. Insect ecologist Chip Taylor, of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, suggests planting zinnias at Monarch butterfly way stations along the Monarch's migration route. At these way stations, the butterflies can get the nectar they need for their long journey from North American to Mexico and back. Honeybees also benefit from zinnia pollen and nectar.

Companion Plant

Normally we think of flower beds and vegetable beds as being separate. Zinnias, however, are good companion plants for vegetables and deserve a place in your vegetable garden. Zinnias deter cucumber beetles and tomato worms. They attract predatory wasps and hover flies, which eat insects that would destroy garden plants. They attract hummingbirds, which eat whiteflies before those flies can damage tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes.

[tasty]

Interesting information  Charlene about using zinnias as companion plants in the vegetable garden.  Thanks 🙂

[Kathy_SD]

Didn't know about having them in veg. garden. I will have to plant a few more than I planned on to try this, thank you!

[luvmyb_b]

Love the new information you shared, Charlene. I'm going to challenge myself to pronounce the word 'zinnia' the right way from now on. Also, I may plant even more zinnias than I thought I would if I end up planting some tomato plants. Not only will I love the look of them together, but they will be helping out with the pest population. This may be one of my favorite SODs you've done.  :D  Thank you!

[Jean]

I love zinnias. Over the years they have become my very favorite summer flower. I used to be a rose nut. I still have a few hybrid teas, and I love them, but they have too much work, without the reward. Have that

Zinnias come in so many colors and varieties, I have found they bring me much joy as they continue to bloom all summer. They attract butterflies and make a nice little summer bouquet for any room in the house.

I save the seeds for next season and give them to family & friends. Just talking about zinnias makes me want to mentally plan all the spots in my yard. Come on Summer, enough of this winter stuff, already!!!🌼🌸🌺

Jean in the freezing
Kansas City metro

[Gayle]

I've always liked  Zinnias & they were one of the few seeds I could direct sow successfully.

Then all of a sudden, a couple yrs. ago, this stopped working for me.  This year I am going to try growing them in containers.  Wish me luck.

And I call them Zeen yahs. Always have.

[steve232]

I have always been a big zinnia fan. I had never thought of putting them in the vegetable garden before but I think Charlene has talked me into it. I usually put some marigolds in the garden but this year think I'll add some zinnias to the veggie garden.