Zinnias in landscape design. Overview of zinnia varieties

To date, there are a large number of flowering plants that are found in almost all areas and flower beds. Such permanent flower decorations of gardens include zinnias - bright and such diverse flowers.

Many people know this plant under a completely different name - majors. This is a flower, without which it is simply impossible to imagine a summer garden or a summer flower garden, because this plant has a simply magnificent bright look. That is why many gardeners give preference to this handsome man over many exotic flowers. However, despite its fame and popularity, growing zinnia has a number of nuances and difficulties that you need to know.

In this article, we will consider the main features and description of zinnia, as well as note the most popular and common types and varieties of this plant. We will reveal in more detail the main and important nuances of agricultural technology for growing this crop.

Features and description of zinnia

Zinnia is a herbaceous or shrubby perennial flowering plant that belongs to the large Asteraceae or Compositae family. It was from this family that the most popular flowers in our gardens came out, for example, asters, marigolds. The homeland of zinnia is Southern Mexico, from where this flowering plant spread primarily to North America, and only then to the whole world. The indigenous population of America and Mexico began to cultivate zinnia as early as 1500, but this plant came to Europe in the 18th century. In European countries, bright zinnias have become the favorite flowers of aristocrats. Three centuries later, majors have spread throughout the world, winning the love of gardeners.

At one time, this flower was a symbol of such a US state as Indiana. The zinnia flower got its name in honor of the botanist and pharmacologist Johann Zinn, who helped the famous scientist Carl Linnaeus research his herbarium material.

An interesting fact is connected with this flower - it was zinnia that became the first flower that bloomed in zero gravity aboard the International Space Station in 2016.

Description of zinnia:

Zinnia is a perennial plant that has decorative features. In our climate, this flower is grown only as an annual, since its homeland is Southern Mexico with its warm climate.
This flower is one of the most popular in gardens around the world. The plant is most popular in North America.
The zinnia flower can grow as a herbaceous plant or as a small bush, depending on the particular variety.
On average, the height of zinnia can be 20-100 cm.
The stems of this plant are quite strong, erect, tolerate windy conditions well. Therefore, even tall varieties do not require additional garters.
One of the features of zinnia is its rapid growth.
Zinnia leaves are oblong ovoid, slightly pointed at the top. Dark green in color, slightly pubescent. They are attached to the stems without petioles, are sessile, arranged oppositely or whorled, collected several at a time at the same level.
Zinnia flowers are apical baskets that grow on long peduncles. They are single inflorescences.
They vary in size - from 3 cm to 14 cm.
The flower consists of reed petals or tubular. Petal petals are arranged in several rows and have different colors: red, yellow, orange, pink, white. The tubular petals are located in the center of the basket and are yellow or yellowish red.
Zinnia flowering begins in early summer, around mid-June, and lasts until frost. No wonder this flower is called long-blooming.
The zinnia plant is distinguished by its resistance to drought, but it cannot stand even the slightest frost, as it is a heat-loving flower.

The most popular types and varieties of zinnia

To date, there are about 22 types of zinnia in nature, but only a few can be grown under the conditions of our climatic zone. Such plants include elegant zinnia, narrow-leaved zinnia, fine-flowered zinnia and linearis zinnia. Consider all these types and their varieties in more detail.

Zinnia graceful

This type of zinnia has been cultivated since 1796.
The natural habitat of zinnia graceful is the territory of southern Mexico.
It is a herbaceous plant.
A tall plant that can reach a height of up to 1 meter.
The plant is formed by erect stems that branch slightly. The entire stem is pubescent with stiff hairs.
The leaves of the plant are ovoid, slightly pointed, up to 7 cm in length.
At the tops of the stems, single basket inflorescences of different shades bloom: white, orange, pink.
The inflorescences are rather large in size, in diameter they can reach 5-16 cm.
The shape of the inflorescence can be simple, semi-double and terry.
Inflorescences consist of reed and tubular petals.
Flowering graceful zinnia begins in early summer and lasts until the very cold.
By flowering time: early flowering, medium flowering, late flowering.

Varieties of zinnia elegant in stem height:

Dwarf zinnia - reaches a height of only 15-30 cm. A distinctive feature of such zinnias is their good branching and the possibility of growing both in open ground and in pots.
Medium zinnia - can reach a height of 35-50 cm.
High zinnia - plants 60-95 cm tall.

Varieties of zinnia according to the shape of inflorescences (only 7 categories, of which only a few are grown on our territory):

Zinnia dahlia. Tall compact bushes, moderately branching. They can grow up to 90 cm in height. The stem is densely covered with large, up to 12 cm leaves. The inflorescences are terry, hemispherical in shape, can reach 14 cm in diameter. Varieties of dahlia-colored zinnias: "Violet" - a plant up to 75 cm in height with inflorescences of all shades of purple; "Orange koenig" - flowers up to 70 cm high with bright large, double inflorescences of a red-orange hue.
Zinnia Lilliput. It is a low compact plant up to 50 cm in height, strongly branching. The stems are strewn with small leaves and small inflorescences. The flowers are shaped like small pom-poms. Varieties of zinnia Lilliput: "Little Red Riding Hood" - a plant up to 55 cm in height with densely double inflorescences of a bright red hue; "Tambelina" is a variety mixture with flowers of different shades.
Zinnia fantasy. They are dense compact bushes up to 60 cm in height. It is distinguished by large leaves and unusually shaped flowers, which consist of narrow, slightly twisted petals. Varieties of zinnia fantasy: "Gift" - a plant with bright red inflorescences.

In addition to these groups of elegant zinnia, the following are also grown around the world: Californian zinnia, cactus flowers, super cactus flowers, scabiose flowers.

Zinnia angustifolia

This type of zinnia is native to southern Mexico.
It is a bush formed by erect shoots that branch strongly.
The leaves are small, oblong in shape.
The inflorescences of this species are also small, in shape they can be simple or terry.
The color of flowers of zinnia angustifolia is orange.

Popular varieties of narrow-leaved zinnia:

Sort "Glorienshine". Dwarf plant, highly branched in shape. It can reach a height of only 25 cm. It is distinguished by an unusual color of inflorescences: at the very center, the petals are painted in orange tones, and at the ends - in reddish-brown.
Sort "Persian Carpet Mix". Plants that are distinguished by a large number of shades of inflorescences: two-tone reddish hue with lemon, white, pink. Often used as ground cover plants.

Zinnia fine-flowered

Plant of medium height that can grow up to 60 cm.
A small bush is formed by thin and fragile stems that have an unusual reddish tint.
On the tops of the stems there are small inflorescences up to 3 cm in diameter.

Zinnia linearis

It is the shortest type of zinnia, which can reach a height of only 25-35 cm.
The stems of this plant are densely strewn with small, long and narrow leaves.
The flowers are also small, have a yellow tint with an orange border around the edge of the petals.

Popular varieties of zinnia linearis:

Sort "Golden ai". The inflorescence of this plant variety has a white core and white reed petals, which is very similar to chamomile.
Variety "Caramel". This plant is distinguished by inflorescences with caramel-yellow reed petals and black tubular petals.

Reproduction of zinnia: the most common methods

Zinnia is a flowering perennial plant that is grown as an annual in our latitudes. You can easily breed this flower yourself. Zinnia can propagate in two ways: seeds and seedlings. Let's take a closer look at the two types of plant breeding.

Seed propagation of zinnia

You can plant zinnia seeds directly in open ground. However, this requires certain climatic conditions. If your winters are harsh and long, then sowing seeds directly into the ground will not work for you. To do this, your area must have a warm and mild climate. If this is possible, do the following:

First of all, zinnia seeds must be subjected to selection. To do this, wrap them in a damp cloth and leave it like that for a couple of days. Good seeds should germinate.
Next, on the selected site, prepare a landing site. Carefully dig the soil and make small grooves.
Sow seeds in them and gently sprinkle with sand.
From above, the bed can be covered with a film to create a small greenhouse.
Under these conditions, the seeds will germinate in about two weeks.

Reproduction of zinnia seedlings

This method is the most suitable for our climatic conditions. Moreover, home-grown zinnia seedlings will take root and bloom much faster.

First of all, it is necessary to select only high-quality seeds. To do this, moisten gauze in Hellene and wrap zinnia seeds in it. In this position, hold the planting material for several days. If your seeds are fresh, they will begin to germinate in a couple of days. They are suitable for seedlings.
The best time for sowing seeds for seedlings is April. If you sow them early, then your seedlings can stretch very much. And in the end you get very thin and fragile plants.
Next, you need to prepare separate pots or cups to avoid picks. Zinnias do not like to be disturbed at such a young age.
Pots need to be filled with moistened peat.
Seeds are sown in several pieces (about 2-3 pieces per pot). Sprinkle with peat about 1 cm on top.
Next, the soil in the pots needs to be moistened, the field of which the future seedlings need to be placed in a bright and rather warm room.
The optimum temperature for germination of zinnia seeds is 22-24 degrees Celsius.
Under such conditions, the seedlings hatch in a few days.
Further care consists in regular watering.
After some time, around the beginning of June or at the end (for the northern regions), the resulting seedlings can be planted in open ground.

Stages of preparation before planting zinnia

Planting and caring for zinnia is not difficult, but the planting process itself must be carefully prepared. If you have not grown seedlings yourself, you need to purchase it. It is also important to choose a suitable landing site on your site. Consider the entire preparation process in more detail.

Stage 1. Selection of planting material

First of all, you need to decide whether you will grow seedlings on your own or purchase them in specialized stores.
If you like to grow seedlings at home, then it is easy to do this by following the plan described above.
If you decide to buy ready-made zinnia seedlings in pots, then choose specialized stores or agricultural companies that breed plants for purchase.
When buying seedlings in the store, give preference to single-planted plants. In addition, the seedlings should be strong and not too long.

When choosing planting material, it is imperative to decide on a specific variety. Only choose varieties of zinnias that do well in your area's climate. Do not take risks by purchasing exotic types and varieties of flowers.

Stage 2. Choosing a landing site

First of all, you need to choose a bright and sunny place on your site, because zinnias are heat-loving plants.
The chosen place should be protected from winds and drafts.
You can pick up a site on a small hill, as zinnia prefers to grow in well-drained soils. And this means that the plant does not tolerate the close occurrence of groundwater and stagnant water at the roots.
When choosing a site for planting zinnia, be guided by the garden composition you are planning. Tall zinnias can be planted singly or used for group plantings. They look great along buildings and fences. Smaller plants are suitable for planting in flower beds in combination with other flowers. Dwarf zinnias can also be planted on balconies in pots or used as ground cover plants.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil for planting

Zinnia prefers to grow in nutritious and fertile soils.
It is also important that the soil is well drained.
Give preference to soil with a neutral reaction.
The selected site must be carefully prepared before planting. To do this, you need to dig up the area by one bayonet of a shovel, by about 40-45 cm. Thus, you remove weeds and saturate the substrate with air.
When digging the soil, add leafy humus or compost to it.
If possible, you can prepare the site for planting in the fall.

Technology for planting zinnia in open ground

The best time to plant zinnia seedlings is in May, when the threat of a return frost has passed. Zinnia does not tolerate even a slight frost of minus 1 degree.
The area prepared in the fall must be slightly loosened again.
Next, you need to prepare small holes for planting zinnia.
Zinnias need space to actively grow, so you should respect the distance between plants. For undersized zinnias, this is 10-15 cm, for medium-sized ones - 20 cm, for tall varieties - 20-30 cm between plants and 35-40 cm between rows.
If you grew seedlings yourself in peat pots, seedlings can be planted directly with them. Otherwise, carefully remove the seedlings without shaking the soil from the roots.
If the site you have chosen is in the lowland part, then it is better to provide the plants with good drainage. At the bottom of the holes, you can pour clean river sand.
Gently place the seedlings in the holes and sprinkle with soil.
To prevent excessive evaporation of moisture, the soil around the seedlings can be mulched with dry peat.

Agrotechnics for growing zinnia: the secrets and nuances of care

Zinnias do not require special care, but if you want to get lush and profusely flowering plants on your site, you need to periodically pay attention to the flower. Zinnia care consists in periodic watering, loosening, top dressing.

Watering zinnias

Zinnia refers to plants that cannot tolerate excessive soil moisture. From this, its root system can begin to rot and eventually die. For this flower, a lack of moisture is better than an excess. Watering needs regular and moderate. It is also important to know that it is recommended to water zinnias under the root, trying not to get on the flowers. If moisture gets inside the inflorescences, they can begin to rot.

Loosening and mulching

Periodically, the soil around the plant must be loosened, at the same time removing all weeds. You need to loosen very carefully so as not to damage the stems of the plant. Usually this process is carried out after watering to loosen the soil and make it lighter. To reduce the amount of loosening and reduce the number of weeds, the soil around the plants can be mulched. For this, it is recommended to use dry peat.

Top dressing zinnia

For more active growth and lush flowering, zinnia must be fertilized throughout the entire growth period. The first feeding should be carried out even during the cultivation of seedlings (if you do it yourself). As a fertilizer during this period, it is necessary to use mineral fertilizers, while keeping in mind that the level of nitrogen fertilizers should be reduced in it.

In the future, zinnias are fertilized two more times during the entire growing season. The first time fertilization should be carried out 3-4 weeks after planting in the ground. As fertilizers, you can use a solution of manure or complex mineral fertilizers. The second time the plant is fertilized during the formation of flower buds.

Pinching and trimming

You need to pinch zinnia if you want to get a beautiful branching plant. Some begin to pinch even at the stage of growing seedlings after the appearance of the fifth leaf. However, it is quite possible to do this after landing. But if you're growing cut zinnia, especially the taller varieties, you don't need to pinch the plant.

As such, pruning zinnia is not needed. However, if you remove permanently withered buds, then your plant will bloom even more abundantly.

Disease and pest control

Like any other plant, zinnia is susceptible to various diseases and pests.

Zinnia pests:

Slugs and snails. These pests are best collected by hand. To facilitate this process, you can spread out the pieces of roofing material, under which they will climb.
May beetles. Such pests are also collected by hand.
Aphid. To combat this pest of zinnia, it is necessary to use a solution of tar soap. If the number of aphids is significant, use special preparations, for example, Fufanon.

Plant diseases:

Spotting. This disease is one of the most serious, as there is no cure for it. If you notice signs, then the affected areas must be removed. With a large infection, the entire plant is removed.
Gray rot. To treat this disease, special fungicide preparations are used, for example, Fundazol.
Powdery mildew. This disease is considered the most common for this plant. Appears as white spots. For its treatment, fungicides are used, for example, Topaz.

Collection of zinnia seeds

The seeds of this plant ripen two months after the start of flowering. Let's figure out how to collect seeds from zinnia. Initially, select the first blooming zinnia flowers. After the inflorescences turn brown, they need to be cut and slightly dried. Next, carefully dry the seeds and place them in a paper bag for storage. Zinnia seeds are suitable for sowing for 4 years.

The use of zinnia in landscape design

Zinnias look great in various garden compositions. For example, these flowers can be planted in various flowerbeds and mixborders in the background.
Zinnias of tall varieties look great against the background of lawns and garden trees.
You can plant these plants along outbuildings, between the beds in the garden.
Smaller varieties of zinnia can be planted along garden paths or along the edge of flower beds.
Alternatively, they can be grown in containers and pots.

Zinnia is considered an excellent choice for any site, as this flower has a truly unique and striking appearance. It becomes a decoration of the territory, and can be used in different flower beds or other flower arrangements. To get a strong and beautiful plant, it is important to understand the nuances of planting and caring for it.

Description of zinnia

Zinnia is presented in numerous varieties and species with significant differences. Its height can vary from 20 to 100 cm, and taller plants are also found. Its features include:

Zinnia leaves are ovoid in shape, slightly pointed towards the top. They are equipped with hard hairs, and can be located opposite or whorled.
Inflorescences are represented by single baskets located at the very top of the stem. Their diameter varies from 2 to 4 cm. They are located on peduncles of considerable height.
The flowers are reed-shaped. They are arranged in several rows or tiled. They can have different colors, so you can choose flowers of orange, red or even white.
The fruit of zinnia is represented by an achene equipped with a crest.

Important! Zinnia blooms in mid-July, and this process continues until the very cold.

The main feature of zinnia is its excellent resistance to high temperatures or drought. It is considered unpretentious, therefore it is perfectly grown in different territories together with other flowers, without requiring specific and constant care.

Types and varieties of zinnia

Zinnia comes in many varieties, with many unique varieties within each variety. Before purchasing any variety, it is recommended to evaluate its parameters in order to know in advance about the features of care.

Zinnia graceful

It is considered the most sought after type of zinnia. It is an annual, characterized by rapid growth. The plant is equipped with stems resistant to various factors, and its height can reach 90 cm. The main varieties of this species include:

Violet- zinnia, which has a sprawling bush, reaching a height of 75 cm. The inflorescences are dense and terry, and usually have a purple color.

Zinnia Violet (Violet)

Lavender Queen. It has a sprawling bush and reaches a height of 80 cm. The inflorescences are highly dense, and reach 12 cm in diameter. They have a lavender flower with a purple hue.

Red Riding Hood. This variety of zinnia is represented by a densely doubled bush with a round shape. The height reaches 55 cm, and the inflorescences are dense and dense. They are 4 cm in diameter. The flowers have a bright red color, and even constant exposure to sunlight does not lead to their fading.

Tom-Tamb. They are a compact bush, the height of which does not exceed 45 cm. The inflorescences are extremely dense and terry, and their average diameter is 5 cm. They have a bright red color that does not change even with constant exposure to sunlight.

Zinnia graceful is presented in many other varieties, all of which are considered easy to care for and have a similar appearance.

Zinnia angustifolia

This type of zinnia appeared in Mexico. It is an upright plant with fairly branched bushes. Their height reaches 40 cm. The leaves are elongated and pointed towards the end. The length usually does not exceed 6 cm, and at the same time they have a wide base. The inflorescences are small in size, so they are no more than 4 cm in diameter. In most cases, they have plain colors. They often have a bright orange tint, with some varieties having red spots at the ends of the petals. Flowering begins from the end of June, and continues until the very cold.

Important! Zinnia angustifolia is a fruitful plant, and the resulting seeds can be planted over the next four years.

The most popular variety of zinnia angustifolia is solar circle. It is represented by a well-developed bush, the height of which usually reaches 25 cm. The inflorescences are double and reach 3.5 cm in diameter. Flowering is considered abundant and long-lasting. The flowers are reed, and at the base they have a dark orange color, and at the ends they differ in a reddish tint.

Zinnia angustifolia is often used by lovers of alpine slides and rocky gardens (rockeries).

Thus, zinnia is presented in several types and varieties, and each variety has its own characteristics, specific appearance and rules of care.

Zinnia - growing from seeds

It is allowed to grow this plant on the territory in different ways, so the owners of the plots independently choose whether seeds or ready-made seedlings will be used for this.

For a competent process of growing zinnia, certain rules and recommendations are taken into account:

it is possible to grow a plant with seeds only in those areas where in May there are already no frosts at night, since at a temperature of -1 degrees the seeds in the ground will die;
if the territory is located in the region where there is a possibility of night frosts in June, then it is recommended to buy zinnia seedlings or grow them yourself, for which it is grown at home, because if the seedlings are planted and hardened correctly, they will take root well and quickly in open ground;
before using the seeds, they should be wrapped in gauze, which is pre-treated with epin, which will allow you to determine in advance which seeds will be optimal for use;
if the zinnia seeds are of high quality and fresh, then in just a few days they will begin to hatch, but old and not very good seeds will begin this process only after a week or more;
at the end of March, zinnia seeds are sown in three pieces, and it is advisable to deepen them by about 1 cm, and for this, peat pots are selected, in which a wet substrate is laid in advance;
sowing is watered with a small amount of water;
zinnia pots are moved to a well-lit place;
it is desirable to maintain the temperature within 23 degrees, and if optimal conditions are created, then in just a couple of days you can observe the appearance of sprouts.

Important! Laying zinnia seeds in three pieces avoids picking in the future, and this process can harm even the remaining plants.

In order for the seedlings to quickly stretch out, it is imperative to provide them with a lot of sunlight. At the end of May, it is necessary to begin to harden the resulting seedlings, which in the future will have a positive effect on its planting. Hardening lies in the fact that the pots must be taken outside for a short period of time during the day.

Planting zinnia in open ground

Zinnias are specific plants with significant sensitivity even to zero temperature, so seedlings are certainly grown at home, which are then transplanted into open ground at the beginning of summer.

In order for the process of planting seedlings to be correct, the recommendations of specialists are taken into account:

it is allowed to start planting zinnia in open ground only after the spring frosts have completely stopped, therefore, mid-June is usually chosen for this, but the temperature on the street must be additionally taken into account;
a distance of 30 cm is certainly left between the flowers;
it is necessary to replant plants together with an earthy clod, and this process is tolerated quite easily by zinnia;
after about 2.5 months, you can observe the flowering of zinnia, and the flowers themselves last long enough, since often even after 30 days they delight with their unique appearance;
after the start of flowering, about two months should pass in order for the seeds to ripen, and if they are collected in time and properly stored, they will remain viable for three to four years.

Thus, planting zinnia is considered a simple process. It is allowed to plant plants not only separately, but also in a flower bed with other flowers, you can use them to create unique flower arrangements or arrange rock gardens and rockeries.

Zinnia - care

Zinnias are considered unpretentious plants, so they are actually easy to care for. For this, only a few rules are taken into account:

the soil needs regular loosening, and during this process it is necessary to ensure that the stems or roots of the plant are not harmed;
zinnias must be weeded to eliminate weeds;
if the summer is dry, then it is important to provide the flowers with abundant watering, and it is carried out directly under the root of the plant, and it is also not allowed to repeat this procedure too often;
when watering zinnia, care must be taken to ensure that water does not fall on the flowers themselves;
after the start of flowering, it is important to monitor the appearance of wilted flowers, as they must be promptly removed from the stem;
if there is a powerful stem, then it is not required to use props or tying for it, but these procedures are certainly carried out for weak flowers;
before planting zinnia in open ground, seedlings must be fed, for which mineral fertilizers are used, and they should not have a lot of nitrogen;
after planting in the ground, it is necessary to apply fertilizer, and you can use liquid manure or standard fertilizers with minerals, and this process is performed twice during the summer.

Important! If it is required that zinnia bushes, then it should be pinched even in seedlings, and it is also allowed to perform this process after planting in open ground, but only after the flowers take root and take root.

Zinnia after flowering

After flowering zinnia, you can start collecting seeds. They ripen 2 months after flowering begins.

Important! It is recommended to outline in advance several inflorescences that opened the very first in order to use them in the future to obtain seeds, and this is due to the fact that first-order shoots produce the highest quality seeds.

We must wait until the ripened zinnia baskets become dark brown in color. Then they are cut and carefully dried. The seeds are hulled and then stored in a warm and dry place, and it is important that the temperature remains unchanged.

Diseases and pests of zinnia

Like all other plants, zinnia is exposed to various pests and diseases:

common pests are May beetles, slugs and aphids;
it is recommended to install small bowls filled with beer on the territory, as this drink attracts gastropods, after which the mollusks will have to be manually collected;
May beetles are also collected by hand, after which they are lowered into water with soapy water;
to destroy aphids, a solution consisting of water and tar soap is purchased, and if there is a strong infection of zinnia, then it can only be saved with a solution of furfanon.

Common diseases are powdery mildew, gray mold, bacterial spot and fusarium. To combat these diseases, it is necessary to promptly eliminate all infected zinnia leaves, and it is often necessary to remove the entire plant if the disease has spread to all leaves.

Fungicides are used to treat Fusarium and gray rot.

Important! Various diseases are usually associated with illiterate care in the process of growing zinnia, and can also be the result of deep planting or significant watering, so it is recommended to initially determine the cause of the disease.

Zinnia - photo

Thus, zinnia is considered an interesting and attractive plant. Growing them is quite simple, so this process can be performed even by beginners. At the same time, it is important to correctly follow all the recommendations of experienced flower growers, as well as provide proper care for the plants. This ensures that they grow up beautiful, bright and strong, so they will delight with their unsurpassed appearance.

But not immediately she took her place in the botanical gardens and flower beds. We can say that the famous Austrian botanist Carl Linnaeus was the first to consider her beauty. The name of the flower was given in honor of the German scientist Johann Gottfried Zinn, who brought Linnaeus a herbarium composed of zinnia.

Zinnia began its rise to fame in the 17th century, and by the beginning of the past it was grown on all continents. An interesting fact is that zinnia was a symbol of the state of Indiana in 1931-1957.

The beauty of zinnia is in its extraordinary unpretentiousness, harmony and beauty of inflorescences - multi-colored bright hats made of velvet petals. The genus includes about 22 species, many different forms, classic varieties and the latest hybrids.

bright zinnias

I love zinnia because it does not require frequent, it can grow and bloom in such a sun that not every ornamental plant can endure. In the summer heat and dryness, I water zinnia quite rarely, but very plentifully. Zinnia does not like frosts and low temperatures.

Zinnia F1 Zahara, mix 49 rub LOOK
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Zinnia Favorite 13 rub LOOK
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Zinnia dahlia flower Scarlet Flame 17 rub LOOK
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Zinnia dahlia-flowered bird canary 17 rub LOOK
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The best types and varieties

There are a lot of them! It is simply impossible to tell about everyone in one article, so I selected the most-most!

A plant with a height of 30 to 90 cm, when planted between specimens should be 20-25 cm. It is good for large, bright, beautiful inflorescences of white, yellow, pink, purple colors, which, if not watered for a long time, can become smaller and fade. Long flowering: begins in June and lasts until frost.

The inflorescences of this type of zinnia are divided into simple, semi-double and terry.

Sort "Polar bear"

I could not resist and bought the seeds. I was attracted by bright white rounded terry hats with graceful, slightly curved petals. The height of the bush, according to the description, is about 65 cm. The seed manufacturer says that the color has a slight greenish tinge, but I did not notice a clear shade in this variety at the exhibition. Only if inside a flower.

Variety "Polar Bear". Photo from seedaholic.com

I hope that what I grow will bloom as magnificently as in the photo.

Variety "Lavender". Photo site sadovnik-18.narod.ru

The bush is quite stately, up to 80 cm tall.

Group of varieties "Fantasy"

Increasingly, in the gardens and flower beds of our country you can see zinnias with double large flowers. Reed petals are unusually curved, narrow, sometimes forked at the end.

Zinnia graceful "Fantasy". Photo site sadovnik-18.narod.ru

Zinnia bushes of this form are spherical, up to 65 cm in height, quite compact. The leaves are bright green and large. Inflorescences up to 10 cm in diameter, loose, hemispherical. This form of zinnia has a number of interesting variety series, different in height, color and type of inflorescences.

The most popular varieties:

"short staff". Bushes no more than 25 cm tall, flowers are round, double, about 10 cm in diameter, red, coral, white, cherry. Ideal for open ground.

Variety "Short Staff". Photo from pinterest.com

Variety mixture "Carousel". The beauty of the variety mixture is that sometimes very beautiful and unexpected specimens come across in it. Plant height is about 60 cm.

Zinnia angustifolia (Zinnia angustifolia)

Annual, propagated by seeds. It reaches a height of 40 cm. It begins to bloom from the end of June and continues to delight with bright colors until frost. The inflorescences of this species are small, simple or semi-double.
Reed petals are monochromatic, yellow or orange, tubular inner petals are small, dark.

Seedlings are sown in April. Seedlings appear on the 5-8th day. In central Russia, they are planted in open ground after frost, around the end of May. In the southern regions - from mid-April. The distance between plants is about 30 cm.

Thanks to progress that does not stand still, both species have acquired many hybrids that are more resistant to temperature conditions, pests and diseases. And the range of colors and petal shapes of hybrid zinnias is simply limitless!

Zinnia "Sahggy Dog"

I think no one will argue that the many-sided beauty of zinnia definitely deserves a worthy and prominent place in the garden. Look how sincerely Irina, our regular author from Sevastopol, talks about her zinnias.

If you plant zinnia at least once, you will surely want to decorate your garden with it every year. I picked up some more interesting publications about this many-sided beauty: Do zinnias grow in your garden?

Zinnia is a graceful and unusual representative of the Astrov family, which came to Russian gardens from the permitted forests of North and Central America. The genus contains many perennial and annual flowering herbs, as well as shrubs, but only 2 undersized species have taken root in Eurasia: Graceful and Narrow-leaved. The genus became truly famous after the first plant that bloomed in zero gravity, which turned out to be zinnia, was received on the ISS.

All species of this plant have common features:

height of inflorescences from 30 to 90 cm;
leaf blades are lanceolate, slightly pubescent, located on the stems in an opposite order;
inflorescences solitary, in the form of apical baskets with a diameter of 3 to 14 cm;
flower stalks are even, thickened in the upper part;
receptacle conical;
the wrapper of the baskets is tiled, multi-row;
flowers externally reed of various colors, internal - tubular, the color varies from yellow to brown.

The main advantage of zinnia is long flowering. After sowing in the ground or transplanting seedlings, it begins in mid-June and continues until the onset of frost.

The best varieties for growing in the garden

Gardeners who decide to decorate their plot with flowering plants have a truly limitless choice. Even if you take two especially popular varieties of this culture - elegant and narrow-leaved zinnia, it will be very difficult to decide. And all because these flowers, in addition to species diversity, have a fairly extensive group gradation. In stores you can find seed material of plants of the following groups:

dahlia zinnias;
pompoms;
fantasy;
scabiose flowers;
chrysanthemum;
gayardiotsvetnye.

Photo gallery

Zinnia: cultivation and care (video)

All of them differ in height and diameter of inflorescences, appearance of flowers and petals, color depending on the variety. The following varieties are considered the most popular:

Variety name	species affiliation	Group	Color, flower size
Orange Kenig	Graceful	dahlias	Large baskets up to 15 cm in diameter are painted red-orange
Jowita	Graceful	dahlias	Large inflorescences with velvety maroon petals
Kirke	Graceful	dahlias	Bright yellow spherical inflorescences
Lilliput Jem	Graceful	Pompoms	Spherical dense inflorescences of all shades of yellow, orange and pink
Thumbelina	Graceful	Pompoms	The flowers are small, various shades of red and yellow-orange.
Chippendale	angustifolia	Chrysanthemum	Dark maroon flowers with a rich orange rim
star yellow	angustifolia	Chrysanthemum	Sunny yellow daisies
Profusion	Hybrid of zinnia elegant and narrow-leaved	Chrysanthemum	Cute "daisies" of various shades of yellow and red

The largest sizes are varieties belonging to the group of dahlia-shaped zinnias. Pompoms, on the contrary, grow in the form of compact spherical bushes. Due to this diversity, these flowers have found wide application in landscape design.

The use of zinnia in the design of a flower garden and garden

They look great in any flower arrangements, and also decorate plain green spaces. These delicate and at the same time bright plants of mixborders give special beauty. To do this, tall varieties are placed in the background. Together with them it is recommended to plant flowers of the Astrov family, as well as marigolds, bluebells and small-flowered chrysanthemums. Such compositions look especially nice surrounded by rural landscapes.

Low-growing zinnias with a variety of shapes and sizes of inflorescences are ideal for borders and balcony gardening (when planting plants in containers and flowerpots). In some areas, they are planted between beds with vegetables and herbs, under the walls of greenhouses and other outbuildings.

How to grow zinnia

Zinnia is characterized by unpretentiousness and high endurance to adverse growing conditions. The only thing that flowers do not tolerate well is short-term spring frosts. When the temperature drops to 0 degrees, young seedlings may die. The plant reacts positively to sunlight and heat, so they select areas that are at least 4 hours a day illuminated by direct sunlight.

Zinnia prefers moderately loose soils, with sufficient nutrients. On sandy, rocky and clay substrates, flowers grow low, with small peduncles and pale colored flower heads.

Sowing dates

This plant reproduces mainly by seeds. In the southern regions, direct sowing into the ground is practiced, and in more northern regions (the middle lane, Siberia and the Urals) - sowing for seedlings. The timing of sowing seeds in the ground depends on the air temperature in the growing region:

in the zone of the Black Sea coast, sowing can be done from mid-April;
in the northern part of the Caucasian region and the Volga region - not earlier than the beginning of May;
in the Non-Black Earth Region and the Middle Strip - in the second or third decade of May;
in Siberia and the Urals - in the first ten days of June.

For seedlings, zinnia is sown 3-4 weeks before planting in the ground. In the southern regions, this should be done in mid-April, and in more northern regions - not earlier than the end of April, the beginning of May. Shoots appear very quickly, for 2-3 days. Before being placed in the ground, seedlings can not dive, but you should definitely deepen the sprout during planting.

Landing pattern

Zinnias are quite tolerant with respect to the proximity of neighboring plant crops. However, for normal growth and development, they need enough space. When landing in a permanent place, it is recommended to use the following schemes:

for tall varieties - 20 cm between plants in rows, at least 40 cm between rows;
for medium-sized varieties - 20 cm in rows, up to 30 cm between them;
for undersized compact varieties - 10-15 cm in rows, at least 15 cm between them.

At first, my garden did not bear enough fruits and berries. When I began to wonder how to contribute to the harvest, I found an unexpected answer. More precisely, I was advised to start breeding honey plants, which will attract bees to the site.

Then my acquaintance with zinnia happened. The unpretentious flower won my favor - since then I have been planting it for many years in the front garden and along the paths.

The modest beautiful flower has many advantages, I am ready to introduce you to several undeniable advantages of this plant.

The genus Zinnia belongs to the Asteraceae family. Two dozen species, many varieties and hybrids are included in this group of plants. This flower culture owes its origin to Central America, it has been known since the time of the indigenous Indian peoples living here. In the equatorial and tropical zones, it is cultivated as a perennial flower.

Zinnia flowers are bushes of different heights - these are both 20-centimeter and meter plants. They are united by an erect stem, it branches (sometimes strongly). The leaves do not have a petiole, are attached directly to the stem, their shape is oblong, pointed at the end. A feature of the plant is a rather rigid pubescence of the stem and leaves.

The inflorescence in tall varieties is located on a long peduncle. In low varieties, flowers cover the entire bush, with a hat (depending on terry) located on the green mass. The petals on the inflorescence are arranged in layers or in one row, in the middle they are tubular.

Their colors are varied: pastel muted tones, bright colors of various shades. The basket has a diameter of 30 mm and reaches 15 centimeters in coverage.

Zinnia blooms from June until the very cold, which it does not tolerate at all, and will die at the first frost. It has a faint spicy aroma, repels pests and attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects to the garden.

Interesting! Zinnia plantings will create a favorable environment for pollination of various garden plants, they are honey-bearing, bees flock to them. Isn't that a virtue?

Varieties and varieties

The flower is good in group plantings, to create a background and borders. Therefore, you need to get acquainted with the species and varieties, find out your preferences and start planting.

Zinnia is now planted all over the world, 20-22 species are distributed to varying degrees. The most famous are graceful, thin-leaved, narrow-leaved and zinnia-linearis. We grow in our gardens often only varietal varieties of elegant and narrow-leaved zinnias.

graceful zinnia

This group of zinnias is represented very widely; many varieties and hybrids have been bred on its basis. Like all typical plants of the genus, the leaves and stem are pubescent, the coverage of the flower varies from 3 to 16 centimeters. The height of the bush is also different - from 0.3 m to 0.9 meters.

The "graceful" species differ in the height of the bush, the shape of the inflorescence and petals, and the color. Depending on these indicators, there are: pompon, chrysanthemum-shaped and dahlia-colored, as well as a group of varieties Fantasia and some others.

Pompoms

These are plants up to half a meter high, the bushes are more compact than other species. Pompom zinnias branch well, have many shoots. Leaves sessile, small.

Inflorescence in the form of a pompom - a kind of fluffy hat. Flower coverage up to 5 centimeters, terry baskets have a dense structure. Petals are arranged like tiles, in layers.

This type of zinnia blooms very profusely, flower caps cover the entire bush, at the same time there are a large number of terry baskets on the plant.

Tom Thumb

Tom-Tamb is a well-known variety of different shades of red. Terry inflorescences have a coverage of up to 6 centimeters, they are rounded flattened. The height of the bush is from 30 to 45 cm.

Red Riding Hood

The Rotkappchen variety is very popular with flower growers, it is medium tall (up to 55 cm). Bright red caps of flowers strew the surface of the bush. The shape of the flower is from cone-shaped to the outline of a densely doubled pompom, its coverage is 3-5 cm.

Advantage! During their long flowering, zinnia baskets do not lose color intensity, do not fade in the sun.

Dahlia group of zinnias

This variety is characterized by such outlines: high growth (up to 1 meter), a powerful bush, a small number of primary shoots.

The leaves and inflorescences are much larger than those of the pompon zinnia. The edges of the petals are slightly raised, the peduncles are long and stand straight. For this feature, this species was nicknamed "major".

Dahlia zinnias are very often planted by me, and by all gardeners. There are many color options: purple, white, orange, red, and cream. Do not list all.

orange king

An upright, medium-sized bush (up to 70 cm) has a double flower on a long peduncle, dense or loose structure. Nice red-orange color.

Violetta

The Violett variety is loved by summer residents and designers for its rich purple color. Bush 75 cm tall has terry inflorescences with a diameter of up to 20 centimeters.

polar bear

The white variety Polar Bear is very decorative, its color casts a little greenish color. The bush is dense, not sprawling, the coverage of the flower is 14-20 cm.

cherry queen

The height of the plant of this chic variety reaches 0.7 meters. The color of the petals is dark crimson, cherry. The diameter of the inflorescence is 10-16 centimeters.

Envy (Envy)

My favorite variety with green flowers. Looks great with brightly colored flowers of other plants. Gaining popularity due to its unusual color.

angustifolia

The name speaks for itself - the leaves are elongated, lanceolate. Like other types of zinnia, the leaf sits tightly on the stem, without a petiole.

The inflorescences of narrow-leaved zinnia are undersized (up to 40 cm), the flowers are double and simple, their color in most cases is orange-reddish, but there are also white and other colors. The diameter of the basket is 4-6 centimeters.

The most widely used variety is the Sunny Circle. It is undersized, red-brown-orange flowers are small in diameter - up to 3.5 cm.

We love zinnia for the variety of hybrid varieties. Here are some photos of zinnia flowers with an unusual shape and color.

Zinnia in the landscape

An unpretentious, modest flower is grown both in private courtyards and for landscaping city areas, near office buildings and in parks. This flower is valued for long, unfading flowering, brightness of colors.

Low-growing species are planted along the paths (very beautiful in planting in a row) and in the near-trunk part of the trees, near the ponds. Zinnias are good in any group planting, combined with all types of plants.

Advice! Zinnia does not fall apart from the wind, it is for this plant that I love it so much.

The flower beds on which these flowers grow are not threatened by a period of lack of flowering. Inflorescences appear continuously, attract bees, birds, butterflies. A rustic-style garden that is now fashionable means a combination of primordially rural flowers on the site: chamomile and calendula, marigolds and saffron, and where without zinnia.

Low and medium plants grow well in containers and flowerpots. They can be rearranged from place to place in the garden, or brought to the veranda, decorate gazebos, terraces with them.

There is no limit to the imagination, these admirable flowers can be placed everywhere.

How to plant and care

Zinnia tolerates periods of rain and drought well. Prolonged lack of watering, of course, is undesirable. Prefers open, sunny places, partial shade, diffused light.

The soil for the plant needs loose, drained, like zinnias and fertile, fertilized land. Therefore, for digging, I bring in compost or humus.

In care, the flower is unpretentious, weeding, timely watering is required. I have fertile soil on the site, so I do not use fertilizers. If desired (if the soil is poor), you can make special top dressing for flowering plants. Suitable potash-phosphorus granular or liquid fertilizers.

Growing through seedlings

I plant zinnia seeds for seedlings at home in April. In March, it is too early, as the seedlings will stretch.

I fill the containers with the substrate for sowing;
Can be planted in individual cups if space permits;
I deepen the seeds by 1 cm, sprinkle with earth and moisten, it is not necessary to cover with a film;
Shoots hatch after 2-5 days, germination is usually 90-100%;
In phase 2, the leaves can be transplanted (dive) into separate containers or simply at a distance of 5-7 centimeters.

When the frosts on the street pass, and you prepare the beds for zinnia seedlings, transplant them into open ground. Planting is carried out according to the scheme: undersized plants after 15-25 centimeters, and high ones - after 25-35 cm.

Sowing in open ground

I grow zinnia perfectly and by direct sowing of seeds in the ground in spring. In May I dig up a bed, I bring in a little wood ash. It can be sown in specially made grooves or holes to a depth of 1-1.5 centimeters. Here's what the seeds look like (pictured).

I leave the distance between the seedlings 10 cm or less (if I plan to plant later). Sometimes I sow immediately through the gap that is necessary for a particular variety. Usually it is 20-25 centimeters.

Advice! Both by seedling and direct sowing, zinnia sprouts well and quickly strengthens. There is no way to buy or plant seedlings - sow in open ground in spring or early summer.