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Are zinnias annual


Are Zinnia Flowers Annuals or Perennials? Do They Reseed Themselves?

Flowers

Thinking of adding some zinnias to your garden but aren't sure if you'll need to replant them every year? Many gardeners ask this basic question, as it can cause additional work each growing season. In this article, gardening and flower expert Taylor Sievers examines the zinnia flower, and whether it's an annual or perennial.

By Taylor Sievers Last updated: April 15, 2022 | 7 min read

Close your eyes and think about the perfect garden flower. I’m sure a few key characteristics come to your mind when you think of this perfect plant. I’ve got a plant in mind, so let’s roll through a few of the most desirable characteristics we could expect from this garden plant here: 

Easy to grow? Check. Heat and drought tolerant? Check. Big, beautiful, cheerful blooms? Check. Long bloom time? Check. Pollinator-friendly? Check, check, and check! Have you guessed what flower I’m thinking of yet? Drumroll, please… It’s the zinnia flower! These plants from the Asteraceae family (along with asters and sunflowers) have been a garden staple for many years.  

Let’s say you’ve decided to plant some of these blooms because you want everlasting color in your garden. You want that patch in the backyard to be gorgeous for as long as possible! But now that you’ve got your gardening cap on, you may be thinking… Will my zinnias come back year after year, or will they only bloom for one year? 

Contents

Are Zinnias Annuals or Perennials? 

It depends on the species we are talking about, but regardless, zinnias are usually treated as annuals in the gardening world. There are a few perennial species that we’ll talk about below, but these species are typically not sold in plant nurseries or traditional seed companies, and therefore are mostly found growing in the wild.  

Annual vs. PerennialZinnias are perennial flowers that are treated as annuals.

So, what exactly is the difference between an annual and a perennial? 

Annual plants are those that complete their life cycle in one year. This means that the plant will sprout, grow, flower, and set seed usually within the Spring to Fall timeframe (depending on the plant and where you live).

Perennial plants are those that complete their life cycle over many years. Some are short-lived, while others are long-lived. Most of the time these plants are slow-growing and may even have woody growth (though not always).

Their aboveground growth (the stems and foliage) may die back during winter, but their belowground growth (roots, tubers, bulbs, or rhizomes) are still alive, and they act as storage organs for the plant. They store all the energy for the following Spring when the plants will break dormancy and begin growing topgrowth again. 

Once established (which may take a few years), some perennial plants will continue to flower every year, and they may even flower within the first year of planting, but they’ll become larger and more vigorous as they age. Usually, there are early signs your zinnias won’t make it past a year, but many do and last quite a long time.

What Does It Mean to “Treat” a Plant as an Annual? Zinnias are often pulled out and replaced each year.

Sometimes, as creative and adventurous gardeners that like to push the limits, we may “treat” a fast-growing perennial flowering plant like an annual flowering plant. This means that instead of allowing the plant to live on into year two and beyond, we either discard it or at least clear the space for other plants in the future. Sometimes we do this because flowering takes so much energy out of the plant that it will take a few years to recover. 

A great example of this is in tulip flower production by commercial cut flower growers. Tulips are perennial in nature. Every year, the foliage emerges from a bulb, and then a beautiful flower is produced. We can let the foliage die back naturally in hopes that a new flower will emerge the following year, and many home gardeners do this.  

In commercial cut flower production, the grower is harvesting the flower stems so that they’re as long as possible for the end-user (usually, the florist), and this harvesting process takes away leaves from the plant. As we know from high school biology, leaves are responsible for photosynthesizing, and thus responsible for producing energy for the plant.

Harvesting

The following year after the tulip flower harvest, foliage may emerge from the tulip bulb, but you won’t see flowers for a year or two. The plant needs to regain energy in order to bloom once more because making such beautiful flowers consumes a lot of energy. 

So, cut flower growers will often “treat” tulips like an annual. Every year they purchase new bulbs rather than worrying about whether their tulips will bloom the following year or not. 

Zinnias are such easy-to-grow-from-seed plants that many gardeners will choose to collect zinnia seeds from their own plants or purchase new seeds. Also, in some cases, zinnias may reseed themselves in the garden, too. 

Another reason a gardener might treat a perennial plant as an annual is that the plant may not survive the winter in that gardener’s hardiness zone. Zinnias are mostly native to the southern United States and Mexico, so in growing zones that are north of these areas, a perennial zinnia may not survive the Winter. Therefore, zinnias would need to be seeded again in the Spring, unless the gardener plans to take the plants in for the Winter (which may or may not be successful anyway). 

Popular Zinnia Species and Varieties

Below are some popular varieties within each different species of zinnia. In total, there are 17 species of flowers in the Zinnia genus. This makes for a wide variety of different flower types that can suit almost any garden. 

Annual Zinnias 

The species of zinnias that are considered annuals are most popular for the home garden and landscape. Annual zinnias are mostly used alongside a vegetable garden to attract pollinators, as a cut flower, or at the edge of a landscape bed to provide groundcover and color. 

Zinnia elegans This variety is the most common zinnia planted in gardens.

By far, this is the most popular zinnia species. If you’ve seen a zinnia before, it was most likely a variety of the species Z. elegans. This species is an annual that produces 1 to 3-foot tall plants with large blooms. 

Zinnia haageana This annual zinnia species grows smaller blooms at about 1-2 inches wide.

This species grows about 2 feet tall with flower blooms about 1 to 2 inches wide. Many of the flowers are two-toned. 

Zinnia angustifolia These flowers grow low to the ground and are commonly grown in containers.

Plants in this species are used mostly in borders, containers, and hanging baskets due to their low-growing nature, with dwarf varieties as low as 6 inches tall. Some varieties can be as tall as 3 feet, however.  

Zinnia peruviana or multiflora These flowers grow best in hot dry climates.

Also known as “field zinnia”, this species is an annual that thrives in hot, dry climates. Because it easily reseeds, it is considered weedy in some areas. The plant will reach 1 to 3 feet in height with blooms of 1 to 3 inches across. The flowers are typically reddish-orange, though some can be goldish-yellow in color.  

Perennial Zinnias 

The species highlighted below are often found growing in the wild, with many of the species being native to the United States and Mexico. These species are usually not readily available to purchase from a plant nursery, but in some instances, the seed may be available for sale from native plant seed companies or you can collect seed yourself. Make sure to follow state laws in regards to collecting seeds or propagating wild species of plants.  

Zinnia grandiflora Another name for zinnia grandiflora is wild zinnia.

This plant is a mounding perennial species (up to USDA Zone 4) known as “wild zinnia”, “Rocky Mountain zinnia”, or “golden eye”. Wild zinnias grow about 4 to 8 inches tall and spread by rhizomes, acting as a groundcover. The flowers are typically yellow, and it thrives on rugged terrain in warm, sunny areas. This plant can also be propagated by division or cuttings. 

Zinnia acerosa Creamy white petals with yellow centers and a woody base indicate these flowers are zinnia acerosa.

Also known as “desert zinnia” or “shrubby zinnia”, this species is a perennial (up to USDA Zone 6) with a woody base and herbaceous stems that become woody as the plant ages. Desert zinnia is low-growing and has silvery-green leaves and stems. It is found in prairies, plains, savannas, and meadows at high elevations and will go dormant during a drought. The petals are creamy-white with bright yellow centers (disk flowers).  

Zinnia anomala Another name for this variety of zinnia is shortray zinnia.

Also known as “shortray zinnia”, this species has 5 to 8 distinctly stubby petals or no petals at all. Shortray zinnia will live as a perennial up to USDA Zone 8. It is considered a sub-shrub, or rather, a low-growing perennial with a woody base.  

Final Thoughts 

First off, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to try your hand at growing zinnias in your garden. You will likely be thrilled at the result! More importantly, though, I hope you’ve at least gleaned some knowledge on the difference between annuals and perennials, and how we, as gardeners, can push the limits to achieve variety and beauty in our gardens.

Whichever species or variety of zinnia you choose to grow, one thing is fairly consistent: the blooms pack a colorful punch to any landscape (well, except maybe the shortray zinnia) and each bloom is pollinator heaven, too! 

Zinnias: The Hardest-Working Flower in the Summer Garden

In summer, gardening requires plants with three key qualities: low maintenance (it's hot out there), heat and drought tolerance (ditto), and brilliant color—the brighter the better.

Zinnias fit the bill on all three counts. And more. In fact, they're one of the best flowers that smart gardeners can put to work in their gardens.

Zinnias work fast.

If there's an easier flower to grow, we'd like to know about it. Zinnias are annuals, meaning that they go from seed to flower to seed quickly. Zinnias' pointy seeds, shaped like little arrowheads, require only basic garden prep to sprout: sow them in well-drained soil, where there's full sun and lots of summer heat, and you'll have tiny seedlings in days, with flowers powering up in just a few weeks. No perennial can claim that speed!

One gardening friend doesn't even bother to prepare her soil—she simply sprinkles seeds wherever she'd like a few zinnias, waters those spots for a couple of days, and lets zinnias' easy-to-grow nature take its course.

Zinnias work wherever you need color.

'Pop Art'. 'Green Envy'. 'Persian Carpet'. 'Candy Cane'. With variety names like that, you know you're in for color. Zinnias come in a preposterous palette of every bright and pastel (except the blues), plus bi-colors, tri-colors, and crazy-quilt mixes designed for cutting, to attract pollinators, etc.

Aside from fresh color, many new zinnia series offer height and width options, too.

Zinnias work as cut flowers.

Zinnias have style, in addition to long, strong stems, so they are naturally destined for the vase.

Wonderful language gets used when describing zinnia flowers: stars and daisies, dahlias and spiders, buttons and domes, and quill-leaf cactus. Flowers can be "singles," with petals lined up in a row around an open center, or semi-doubles, or doubles. All work marvelously in floral arrangements.

Of course, the tall varieties are the zinnias of choice for cutting: 'Benary's Giant' is famous for its three-foot-tall, sturdy stems and large flowers. Cut zinnia stems at an angle just above a bud joint. Zinnias are typically long-lasting in a vase—strip the stems of all but the most visible leaves before setting them in water.

Zinnias cut your workload.

Zinnias are low maintenance. Since they're fast-growing, they shade out weeds. They don't require much in the way of fertilizing (just an occasional well-balanced mix), and they don't need mulching.

Deadheading helps to produce more flowers. No time to deadhead? The Zaharas mentioned in the sidebard are self-cleaning—a real time saver when it comes to a large bed.

Like Zaharas, the Profusion Series (hybrids between Z. elegans and Z. angustifolia) are resistant to the scourge of zinnias: powdery mildew.

Because zinnias are native to the grasslands of the southwestern states, Mexico, and South America, they know how to handle dry conditions. But wet summers (we've had one so far) can take their toll. And that can lead to powdery mildew and leaf spot. Three suggestions for dealing with wet conditions:

  1. Water only when needed, and then only at the base of the plants. Wet leaves can promote mildew development, and splashing water can transfer fungus from the ground onto zinnia leaves in an instant.
  2. Camouflage tall, more mildew-prone varieties with other plants in the foreground.
  3. Do both #1 and #2 and live with the fact that zinnia leaves (but not flowers) are affected by wet weather—as one horticulturist put it, "Even when zinnias are covered in powdery mildew, they're covered in flowers."

Zinnias work year after year.

It's easy to save zinnia seeds. Simply let the flowers dry fully on the stem, then collect the seedheads and lightly crush them in your hand to release next year's seed crop. Store in a cool, dry place as you do other seeds. (And set some aside in a labeled envelope for our Seed Swap next February!)

One last reason to plant zinnias year after year: they're butterfly magnets. The bigger-flowered varieties act like landing pads for nectar-seeking butterflies. (Same goes for hummingbirds.) Try tall zinnias with red or hot pink flowers to get the biggest draw.


Karen Zaworski is a garden writer and photographer who lives and gardens in Oak Park, Illinois.

planting and care in the open field.

Types and varieties of zinnia with photos and names

The genus Zinnia has 20 species growing in America.

Perennial and annual, semi-shrub or herbaceous plants. The foliage of zinnia is ovate, sessile, whorled on the stem. Inflorescences - solitary, baskets, a little large, on long peduncles.

Tiled basket wrap, multi-row. Marginal flowers reed, differently colored, red, yellow, pink, white, lilac, purple, densely spaced, with notched or rounded limb; internal - tubular, small. nine0003

Types and varieties of zinnias

In landscaping, only two annual species are used, which gave rise to varieties of garden zinnias. Great popularity with zinnias in America. Most of the modern varieties were bred there. Americans love zinnia for its vibrant coloration and resistance to intense heat.

Fine zinnia

Southern Mexico is considered to be the homeland.

Annual plant, with erect stems. The foliage is ovate-pointed, sessile, dark green. Leaves and stems are pubescent. Inflorescences - baskets. Reed flowers are cream, white, yellow, red, orange, lilac, purple, lilac. Zinnia graceful blooms profusely and for a long time. nine0003

According to the structure of the inflorescences, the shape of the flowers, zinnias are divided into groups: chrysanthemum flowers, dahlia flowers, gaillardio flowers, scabiose flowers, pompoms, fantasies. In Russia, varieties of pompon and dahlia flowers are common, less often varieties of the fantasy group. As a rule, seeds are sold in mixtures, although there is now an increased need for seeds divided into varieties or colors.

Dahlias. - Powerful bushes, compact or spreading, 90 cm in height. The leaves are large, 12 cm long. Hemispherical inflorescences, large, double. Sample varieties:

' Violet ' - Spreading shrub, 75 cm tall. Terry inflorescences, dense, purple, different shades.

' Crimson Monarch ' - Spreading shrub, 60 cm high. Inflorescences are terry, large, dark red.

' Purple Prince ' - Bush height 60 cm, purple inflorescences.

' Rose ' - Spreading shrub. Inflorescences are terry, pink in different shades. nine0003

Among the tall zinnias, the largest inflorescence is in the dahlias (diameter 15 cm). The height of these plants is 100 cm - red, white, lilac, raspberry, yellow, salmon, pink, and purple baskets.

Pompoms. - Bushes 55 cm tall, densely branched, compact. Small leaves. Inflorescences are rounded, cap-shaped, small, very dense, terry. Flowering is plentiful. Examples of varieties:

' Rotkopchen ' - Densely double, spherical, 45 cm tall. Gustomahrovye inflorescences, dense, bright red. Blooms from the end of June. nine0003

' Tom Stand ' - Compact bush, 40 cm tall. The inflorescences of this zinnia are terry, dense, bright red.

Fantasy. - The bushes of this group of zinnias are almost spherical, 50 cm tall, compact. The leaves are large. The inflorescences are loose, hemispherical, curly, terry, of various shapes and colors. Reed flowers are narrow, almost linear, folded into tubules along their entire length, intricately curved in different directions.

More recently, cultivars of 'New Attraction' zinnia populations have appeared in flower shops. They have anemone inflorescences. Plants 60 cm high, baskets of various colors. nine0003

Zinnia angustifolia

Originated in Mexico.

Erect, annual plant, forms branched bushes. The leaves are elongated or lanceolate, sessile, pointed. Inflorescences are small, bright orange, simple and semi-double.

Zinnia angustifolia has cultivars such as 'Glorienshine'. Strongly branched bush 25 cm tall. Terry inflorescences. Reed flowers are red-brown at the ends and dark orange at the base. Frost blooms.

Location of zinnias: zinnias are heat-loving plants, they are damaged even by slight frosts. They grow best in sunny, warm areas. They bloom luxuriantly only in a protected place. nine0003

Need fertile garden soil.

Leaf spot. Grayish-brown spots with a red border appear on the foliage. The leaves wither and fall. Cut off affected leaves. Zinnias are also affected by powdery mildew, slugs and snails.

Caring for zinnias

Zinnias are drought-resistant so they need to be watered infrequently, but when dry they lose their decorative effect. Watering should be plentiful. Zinnias are great for top dressing with universal fertilizers. nine0003

Propagation of zinnias

Seeds through seedlings. The optimum germination temperature is 20 degrees. If the zinnia seedlings are stretched out, it can be deepened a little.

Use of zinnia

In gardens, flowerbeds, groups. Tall varieties of zinnia are suitable for decorating flower beds. For balconies, undersized varieties are suitable. Zinnias look very good in a group planting. Zinnia flowers stand in water for a long time.

Partners of zinnia

The plant goes well with annuals (tagetes, small chrysanthemums, verbena). nine0003

Zinnias - planting, care, types and varieties. Growing. Flowers. Photo — Botanichka

Zinnias are the embodiment of the discreet beauty of a harmonious garden in its prime. But they won our hearts (and gardens) not only because of their attractiveness. These flowers have a number of advantages over other annual and perennial plants - a huge variety of colors and shades, different heights, depending on the variety, and special unpretentiousness in care. About why it is worth planting zinnias in your garden, and how to care for them, we will tell in the article. nine0003 Zinnias. © Shiv

Contents:

Botanical description of the plant

Zinnia ( Zinnia ) is a genus of annual and perennial herbs and subshrubs of the family Asteraceae ( Asteraceae ). The zinnia genus has 15-20 species growing in Central and South America.

Zinnias are annual and perennial, herbaceous and semi-shrub plants. The leaves are ovate with a pointed apex, sessile, entire, arranged oppositely or whorled on the stem.

Inflorescences of zinnia - baskets, solitary, relatively large, apical, on long, usually thickened peduncles or sessile. The wrapper of the baskets is multi-row, tiled. Marginal flowers are reed, variously colored: yellow, red, white, pink, purple, lilac, densely arranged, with a rounded or notched limb; internal - small, tubular. The fruit of zinnia is an achene. nine0003

Two annual species are used in landscaping - Zinnia elegant ( Zinnia elegans ) and Zinnia angustifolia ( Zinnia angustifolia ). They gave rise to numerous varieties of garden zinnias, which are very diverse in terms of decorative possibilities. Zinnias are especially popular in the USA. Most modern varieties were bred there. Americans loved her for her resistance to heat and bright colors.

Benefits of growing zinnias

There are at least five reasons why many gardeners want to have beautiful zinnias in their garden. These are:

  1. A whole rainbow of shades. These flowers come in every color except blue, so they are easy to pair with perennials or annuals, deciduous plants, and herbs.
  2. Any height. Among the varieties of zinnias there are both high and low specimens; with them you can easily realize any ideas.
  3. Minimum worries - maximum return. Unpretentious zinnias will delight your eye all season long, without you having to take care of them with all your might. nine0106
  4. A feast for birds and butterflies. Plant some zinnias and watch your garden come alive with many winged creatures.
  5. Endless flowering. The more flowers you pinch off a zinnia, the more flowers will form.

Peculiarities of growing zinnias

Zinnia is a light-loving and heat-loving plant that does not tolerate frost. For abundant long flowering requires soil with sufficient nutrients with a neutral reaction. The area allocated for growing zinnias is first dug up, and then humus, compost or leaf soil is added at 8-10 kg per 1 sq. m. From mineral fertilizers, add 1 tablespoon of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and nitrophoska and again dig to a depth of 10 cm.

Grows well in sunny areas protected from the wind. It does not tolerate excess moisture in the soil and prolonged drought, in which the inflorescences become smaller. Zinnia responds to the application of organic and mineral fertilizers not only during planting, but also in top dressing, which is carried out 2-3 times per season.

The first top dressing of zinnias is carried out long before budding: 1 tablespoon of urea, 2 tablespoons of organic fertilizer "Flower" are diluted per 10 liters of water.

Fine zinnia Magellan

The second top dressing is carried out at the beginning of budding: for 10 liters of water, dilute 1 tablespoon of "Agricola for flowering plants" and liquid fertilizer "Rainbow".

Before top dressing, be sure to sprinkle with wood ash at the rate of 2-3 tablespoons per 1 sq. m. When opening flower buds, zinnia is sprayed with the Bud preparation (10 g is diluted in 10 liters of water).

Planting zinnias

Most often, zinnias are propagated by seeds through seedlings, as zinnias are sensitive to even the lightest frosts, both in spring and autumn. Before planting, it is advisable to soak the zinnia seeds in a damp cloth to select germinating seeds. Old hatch in about 6-10 days, fresh - in 2-3 days. nine0003

Sow on the windowsill in peat pots in early April, planting to a depth of 1 cm. Optimum germination temperature is 22-24 degrees. If the seedlings are stretched out, they can be deepened. Zinnias quickly form adventitious roots. At the end of May, the seedlings are hardened by taking the plants out onto the balcony.

Graceful zinnia ‘Molino’. © Thompson & Morgan

Landing in place is carried out after the end of spring frosts (in central Russia this is June 6-10), maintaining a distance between plants of 30-35 cm. Plants tolerate transplanting with a clod of earth without problems. In the south, zinnia is propagated by sowing seeds in the ground in April-May, followed by thinning. Zinnia blooms 2.5 months after sowing. Each flower stays on the plant for a very long time, up to 35 days. Seeds ripen 60-65 days after the start of flowering. Seeds remain viable for 2-3 years. nine0003

Use of zinnias in garden design

Used in flowerbeds, borders, groups, large masses and for cutting. Tall varieties are ideal for decorating flower beds and flower beds. For balconies and containers, medium-sized and undersized (15-20 cm) varieties are suitable. They are resistant to the wind, bloom profusely and continuously. Zinnias look especially good in a group.

Flowers stand well in water and retain their color for a long time. They are cut when the inflorescence opens to 3/4, the ends of the stems are burned or cut in hot water. You can restore freshness to a wilted bouquet of zinnias by placing it in hot water and first updating the lower oblique cut. nine0003

Undersized zinnias can be dug up with a clod of earth before frost, planted in large pots, watered abundantly and kept in a room with a bright window. Then they will decorate your apartment for several weeks.

Zinnia angustifolia. © Vladimir Papchenkov

Varieties and species of zinnias

Zinnia elegans

Homeland of zinnia is Southern Mexico. The plant is annual, fast-growing, with erect, stable stems 30-90 cm tall. The leaves are ovate-pointed, entire, sessile, arranged oppositely, dark green. The stems and leaves have a hard pubescence. Inflorescences - baskets 3-14 cm in diameter. nine0003

Reed flowers bright, white, cream, yellow, orange, red, lilac, lilac, violet; in shape - elongated-oval, linearly elongated or rolled lengthwise into a tube, with three teeth at the end; tubular - small, yellow. It blooms very profusely and for a long time from mid-June until frost. Fruiting. Seeds remain viable for 2-4 years. In the culture of Europe since 1796, among the Aztecs - since 1520.

Zinnias, mix of varieties. © Prairie Star Flowers

According to the structure of the inflorescences, the shape of the reed flowers and the height of the zinnias, they are divided into several groups: dahlia flowers, chrysanthemum flowers, scabiose flowers, gaillardio flowers, pompoms, fantasy. nine0003

In Russia, varieties of dahlia-flowered and pompon zinnias are the most common, varieties of the fantasy group are less commonly used.

Seeds are most often sold in mixtures, although in recent years, with the development of a landscape gardening culture, the need for seeds separated by varieties or colors has increased.

Dahlia group of varieties of elegant zinnia

Dahlia flowers zinnias are powerful, sprawling or compact bushes, 60-90 cm tall, with a small number of shoots of the first order. The leaves are large, up to 12 cm long. Inflorescences hemispherical, large, 10-14 cm in diameter, terry. Reed flowers are elongated-lobed, tiled with slightly raised edges. nine0003 Graceful zinnia, Envy variety. © Australian Seed

Some varieties of dahlia zinnia

Zinnias ‘Queen Red Lime’ and ‘Queen Lime’. © Prairie Star Flowers
Pom pom zinnia cultivars

Pom pom zinnias are bushes 40-55 cm tall, compact, densely branched, with a large number of shoots of the second or fourth order. The leaves are small. Inflorescences cap-shaped, rounded, small, 3-4 cm in diameter, very dense, terry. Reed flowers are small, tiled. Flowering is abundant, simultaneous. nine0003

Some varieties of pompon zinnia

Zinnia ‘Oklahoma Pink’. © Prairie Star Flowers

Zinnia angustifolia

Zinnia angustifolia is native to Mexico. The plant is annual, erect, forms branched bushes 30-40 cm tall. Leaves sessile, elongated or lanceolate, pointed, up to 6 cm long, with a wide base. Inflorescences are small, up to 4 cm in diameter, monochromatic, bright orange, sometimes reed flowers with red tips and a dark orange base, simple and semi-double; tubular - dark or black-brown.

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