Zinnia plants are annual flowering plants in the daisy family. They are native to scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the Southwestern United States to South America. Zinnias are available in a wide range of colors, including white, yellow, orange, red, purple, and pink. They have daisy-like flowers with a wide range of sizes, from 2 inches to 6 inches in diameter. Zinnias are easy to grow and require full sun and well-draining soil. They are drought-tolerant and can tolerate a wide range of soil types. Zinnias are also attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.
Planning Your Garden With Zinnias
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Zinnias are annuals. |
| USDA Zone | Zinnias are hardy in USDA Zones 3-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Zinnias are generally considered to be frost-tolerant, meaning they can withstand temperatures down to 28. However, they are not cold hardy and will not survive temperatures below that. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest zinnias is usually around 60 days from the time of sowing the seeds. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown zinnia plant is between 12 and 36 inches tall and 12 to 24 inches wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Zinnias should be planted about 12-18 inches apart for best results. |
| Sun tolerance | Zinnias are considered to be sun-loving plants and can tolerate full sun conditions. They will produce the most flowers when grown in an area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. |
| Shade tolerance | Zinnias are considered to be full sun plants, meaning they prefer 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. They can tolerate some shade, but they may not bloom as heavily or as long as they would in full sun. |
| Water requirements | Zinnias require consistently moist soil, but not overly wet. They should be watered when the top inch of soil is dry. Water deeply, so that the water reaches the roots. Zinnias also prefer full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing zinnias depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1 to 2 pounds per 100 square feet of garden area. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing zinnias is 6.0 to 7.0. |
Why Zinnias are Popular
People like to grow zinnias because they are easy to grow, they come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, they attract butterflies and other pollinators, and they have a long blooming period.
Companion Plants For Zinnias
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for zinnias include:
Common Pests For Zinnias
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow zinnias, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- leafhoppers
- slugs
- aphids
- caterpillars
- whiteflies
- spider mites
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
