What Is Mexican Zinnia - Growing Mexican Zinnias In The Garden

Narrow-leaf Zinnia or Mexican Zinnia, is a compact, bushy annual in the daisy family native to Mexico. It typically grows 8-16” tall on hairy, branching stems. It features a profuse summer to frost bloom of single, daisy-like, bright orange flowers that attract butterflies.

Do zinnia plants come back every year?

Zinnias are annuals, so they'll grow for one season and produce seeds, but the original plant will not come back in subsequent years. They have bright, solitary, daisy-like flowerheads on a single, erect stem, which makes them great for use as a cutting flower or as food for butterflies.

What do zinnia flowers mean?

Zinnia is a symbol of endurance because it blooms from mid-summer all the way until frost. It also symbolizes lasting friendship, goodness and remembrance.

Where do Zinnias grow in the garden?

Light: Zinnias grow and flower best in full sun. They can flower in part shade, especially in warmer climates with afternoon shade, but they may be more susceptible to disease and have fewer flowers. Soil: Zinnias grow best on fertile, well-drained soils high in organic matter.

What do zinnia flowers attract?

Zinnia flowers are a must-plant annual for the butterfly garden and a favorite flower of monarchs, swallowtails, and those hyper-winged hummingbirds. However, not all zinnias are attractive to butterflies: Double-bloom varieties make if difficult to access nectar so most butterflies won't even bother.

Should you deadhead zinnias?

Deadhead Zinnias to prolong blooming time. Zinnias flourish when they are deadheaded and it encourages the flower to continue to bloom. ... You can either pinch the flower off or use a small pair of garden shears to cut them off.

Are zinnias good in pots?

Zinnias are colorful additions to any flower garden, they're great for cutting, they are easy to grow and start from seed, so they make a great choice for container gardening.

What does Zinnia mean in English?

zinnia, old maid, old maid flower(noun)

What colors are zinnias?

tall. Flowers can be daisy-like, double, cactus-flowered or a formal looking dahlia like flower. Color range includes saturated shades of: white, yellow, orange, red and purple.

Are zinnias and dahlias related?

The flowers of zinnia (Zinnia spp.) and dahlia (Dahlia spp.) ... They're both members of the sunflower family, or Asteraceae, with similar flower construction. The circular blooms are composed of many smaller flowers that form one large flower head.

How do you keep zinnias from blooming?

Pruning zinnia plants is really easy! All you need to do is wait until they are about 10-12 inches tall; you want to make sure they have a couple sets of leaves. Once they reach this point you will cut the tops off of the plants. I cut down about 4 inches or the top two sets of leaves with a sharp pair of pruners.

Do zinnias reseed themselves?

Zinnias (Zinnia spp.) reseed easily, creating a cut-and-come-again garden each summer. ... Zinnia haageana "Persian Carpet" and Zinnia elegans "State Fair" and "Liliput" are a few of the heirloom varieties that grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 1 through 10 and reseed each year.

What do zinnias repel?

Zinnias help lure predator bugs into a fall garden where they eat destructive pests. Plant zinnias near cauliflower to attract ladybugs, which eat many of the insects that attack cauliflower. Nasturtium are bright and cherry flowers that also serve a purpose. They can repel beetles as well as aphids and squash bugs.

Do zinnias attract hummingbirds?

Zinnia are among the easiest of all annual flowers to grow, with bright bloom colors that make them a favorite of hummingbirds and other pollinators. ... After the hummingbirds have had their fill of the nectar, seeds will develop as the flowers mature, attracting finches and other seed-loving birds.

Do zinnias keep bugs away?

It helps keep beetles off asparagus. It also deters Mexican bean beetles and the beetles that eat melon plants. ... Dwarf zinnias, by contrast, lure predator bugs, which then eat garden pests. Planting a zinnia near cauliflower will draw lady bugs, which in turn eat most of the pests that attack cauliflower.

Why do my zinnias look bad?

Bacterial and fungal spots, powdery mildew, and bacterial wilt may affect zinnias. Minimize wetting of foliage and space plants properly to avoid disease. Caterpillars, mealybugs, and spider mites also cause problems. Some leaf damage is not an issue, so avoid spraying unless there's a true infestation.

How do I keep zinnias blooming all summer?

Cutting right above leaves and new buds allows the plant to produce more blooms. It also allows more sunlight to reach the whole plant, increasing the growth.

Do zinnias bloom all summer?

The Benary's Giants have large, double blossoms, 4 to 6 inches across, available in a rainbow of colors and features improved mildew resistance. Photo by: Shaikh Meraj / Shutterstock. Fully double flowers bloom all summer on this heat-loving zinnia.

How often should you water zinnias?

* Water zinnias at ground level to prevent fungus. Once they are 3 to 4 inches high, water them deeply a couple of times a week, depending on weather. Zinnias aren't drought tolerant, but they like their soil a little on the dry side. The soil should not be continuously wet.

Do zinnias spread out?

Zinnias are annuals, meaning that they go from seed to flower to seed quickly. ... Creeping or spreading Zinnia angustifolia, such as the Crystal Series, are a revelation for the front of the border, raised beds, containers, and even ground covers.

Why are my zinnias dying?

A: Zinnias can be prone to several bugs as well as the most common problem -- powdery mildew, which is a disease that turns the leaves whitish, then brown. ... The holes could be due to Japanese beetles or to a couple of other smaller beetles that sometimes eat zinnia leaves.