Bunch of Zinnias — Queen Lime Zinnias in Orange, Blush/Blotch, Red and Lime

The first plant I ever started from seed was a green bean in a cut down milk carton on the classroom windowsill. The second was a zinnia I planted in a small corner of my mother’s garden. They’ve been in every home garden I’ve had since then.

Zinnias are one of the easiest annual flowers you can grow, particularly here in Virginia during the hot summers they love. Nothing says summer like a garden bed full of these cheerful blooms.

The original zinnia, zinnia grandiflora, is a yellow daisy-like flower native to Mexico and the southwest United States. Now you can find hybridized zinnia elegans in a multitude of colors, shapes and sizes to suit any preference. Even better, zinnias readily cross pollinates and you can save the seeds for even more variety!

Here in the farm’s flower field, we grow taller varieties most suitable for cutting and use in arrangements.

Benarys Giants

Benarys Giants are the “gold standard” for flower farms. They have long strong stems, large double blooms and come in a wide selection of colors.

Oklahoma

Oklahomas are also double flowered, but smaller than the Benarys Giants. They also come in a variety of colors.

Queen Lime

The Queen Lime zinnias are one of my personal favorites. This zinnia comes in four different colorways that are all based on chartreuse green – Lime (pure green), Orange (salmon-peach and lime gradients), Blotch or Blush depending on the seller (rose pink centers grading to lime) and Red Lime (maroon red and antique rose with lime). See the image at the beginning of this blog entry.

Floret Originals

Floret Originals are my other personal favorite zinnias. Erin Benzakein of Floret began hybridizing zinnias a few years ago and has now begun to sell her creations – the Floret Originals. There are several colorways and types available. We have been growing ‘Golden Hour’ and ‘Little Flower Girl’ this year and I love them both. Of the two – Golden Hour is my favorite due to its unique color. It is so hard to photograph in a way that showcases its glowing beauty and is best described by Erin herself on her website – “This variety is named for the most beautiful time of day—the hour before the sun sets on the horizon. Large flowers come in a range of warm honey and cantaloupe shades that look as if they are glowing. As flowers age, the lower petals take on the faintest cranberry edging that beautifully complements their red eyes.” I would only add that we are seeing a pretty pink edging rather than cranberry.

**Golden Hour’s true color is better photographed in the shade.**

Linen & Ballerina

Linen and Ballerina are two new varieties introduced by Johnny’s Selected Seeds in 2025. Linen is a very pale cream double and Ballerina is a very pale pink double. We will be trialing them next year.

There are also many bi-color and dwarf varieties of zinnia that will meet any garden need.

Growing zinnias is almost fool-proof. Here in Virginia, they are best direct sown into a prepared garden bed after last frost when the ground has warmed. They actually do best without fertilizer but weed control and consistent watering are key. Zinnias also like at least 6 to 8 hours of full sun.

A few tips if you want to grow zinnias for cutting -

If you are not regularly cutting your zinnias, be sure to deadhead any spent blooms to encourage new flowers instead of seed production.
Zinnias need to be picked when they pass the “wiggle test.” Gently pinch the stem about 8 inches down from the flower head and gently wiggle it. If the stem is droopy and the flower head flops around, it is not ready to cut; if the stem is stiff and the flower stays upright, it is ready to harvest.
Zinnias are notorious for making vase water dirty. Adding a drop of bleach to the vase helps keep the water clean and extend flower life.

Sources for Zinnia Seeds:

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
Floret
Hudson Valley Seeds
Botanical Interests (at Stranges and Great Big Greenhouse)
Baker Creek
Burpee
Renee’s Garden

Feature Flower - Zinnia

Elderberry Season