Zinnia ‘Señora’

Zinnia elegans

Features

  • Cut-and-come-again
  • Easy to grow
  • Heat-loving
  • Pollinator-friendly

Description

This farm favorite has large flowers with twisted, shaggy petals. The warm salmon-apricot blooms are prolific and thrive in the heat. These reliable plants produce a bumper crop of large flowers that have long, strong stems. The more you harvest, the more they bloom. Zinnias are easy to grow and make a great choice for beginners.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Zinnias can also be direct-seeded once the weather has warmed.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Use the “wiggle test”: Grab the stem about 8 in down from the flower and gently shake it. If the stem is droopy or bends, don’t cut yet. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. Do not put in the cooler. Zinnias are notorious for making their water murky. To combat this, add a few drops of bleach to the water. Expect a vase life of 7 days.

Details

Description

This farm favorite has large flowers with twisted, shaggy petals. The warm salmon-apricot blooms are prolific and thrive in the heat. These reliable plants produce a bumper crop of large flowers that have long, strong stems. The more you harvest, the more they bloom. Zinnias are easy to grow and make a great choice for beginners.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 36 to 40 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 75 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 9 in
Pinch: when 8 to 12 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Start seed indoors in trays 4 to 6 weeks before last frost; transplant out after all danger of frost has passed. Zinnias can also be direct-seeded once the weather has warmed.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Use the “wiggle test”: Grab the stem about 8 in down from the flower and gently shake it. If the stem is droopy or bends, don’t cut yet. If the stem is stiff and remains erect, it is ready to harvest. Do not put in the cooler. Zinnias are notorious for making their water murky. To combat this, add a few drops of bleach to the water. Expect a vase life of 7 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Fall Mini Course

Learn how to successfully dig, divide & store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn how and when to dig up your dahlia tuber clumps, how to divide dahlias to multiply your stock, and how to successfully store dahlias for an abundance of blooms year after year.