Zinnia: types, varieties, names with photos and descriptions. Zinnias, planting and care in open ground Zinnia plants

Do you want your flower garden to please the eye not only during the summer, but also until frost? This means that zinnia should definitely take up residence in your flower beds! A bright and colorful beauty will bring pleasure with its variety of colors and will literally transform the area. You can imagine this yourself by getting acquainted with zinnia varieties with photos and names.

The name of the German physician and botanist Johann Zinn, who in the distant 18th century was the first to bring from Central America the seeds of a flower unfamiliar to Europeans, was forever fixed in the name of the flower. From that moment on, it was firmly rooted in European flower beds.

The flower, belonging to the Astrov family, has a straight, somewhat branched stem, on which oval-shaped leaves are planted without petioles. They all have a slightly pointed tip. Both the leaf and the stem of the plant are not smooth; on the contrary, their surface is covered with small but quite hard hairs.
Inflorescences are simple or double petals, collected in a basket. The size of the inflorescences varies: the smallest have a diameter of about 5 cm, the largest reach up to 15 cm.

The plant loves warmth, open sunny places, does not require special care and is not capricious. It is distinguished by its ability to grow quickly and bloom for a long time. The flowers resemble dahlias, marigolds and chrysanthemums in appearance.

Varieties of zinnia

Of the 22 species of this annual known in nature, only four are used in ornamental gardening: graceful, narrow-leaved, thin-flowered, and linearis. Having looked at the varieties of zinnia with photos and names, you can independently choose the most suitable one for decorating your flower beds.

1. Thin-flowered zinnia

these are low (up to 60 cm) bushes, consisting of brittle stems, decorated with small inflorescences (up to 3 cm).

1. Linearis

the shortest zinnia flowers (25-35 cm). The same miniature inflorescences bloom on miniature bushes, having a characteristic orange border on the petals.

But the most suitable for the climate of our country are the graceful and narrow-leaved zinnia; we will present these varieties of zinnia in more detail.

1. Graceful

varieties delight with their rapid growth and large (up to 15 cm) inflorescence sizes.

The most popular varieties of Zinnia graceful steel:

• The dahlia-flowered group, which includes varieties with well-branched bushes of different heights, long (up to 12 cm) leaves and large hemisphere-shaped inflorescences.
• The pompom group has another name - Lilliputian. Low (up to 55 cm), quite compact, but at the same time producing many shoots, bushes of varieties of this variety usually bloom simultaneously with small (up to 4 cm) inflorescences and are distinguished by small leaves.
• The “Fantasy” or “Fantasy” group of zinnias is represented by medium-sized (up to 65 cm) varieties with large leaves and fairly large (up to 10 cm), loose inflorescences.

1. Narrow-leaved

varieties are characterized not only by oblong and somewhat elongated leaves with pointed tips. They have small inflorescences, the diameter of which is only 4-6 cm.

Zinnia varieties

Two popular varieties, graceful zinnia and angustifolia, have many varieties and are capable of fulfilling the most demanding request of a landscape designer.

Let's get to know the flower and its varieties in more detail.

Low growing zinnia

Low-growing zinnia varieties are both graceful and narrow-leaved varieties. Flower growers fell in love with these varieties of miniature zinnia:

“Little Red Riding Hood” (Rotcopchen) is an elegant pompom zinnia. The flower got its name due to its bright red color, the saturation of which even the summer sun cannot change. Low half-meter bushes (45-55 cm) take the shape of a ball, decorated with dense, densely double inflorescences, in some cases round, in others resembling a truncated cone).

“Persian Carpet” (Persian Carpet) is a narrow-leaved zinnia that is one of the most decorative varieties. The bushes are low, from 40 to 50 cm, and when planted en masse they give the impression of a bright carpet, in which yellow, red, and brown shades predominate. Inflorescences up to 6 cm in size are two-colored, reed flowers are distinguished by the presence of characteristic contrasting spots. The advantages of the variety include the ability to tolerate drought and frost resistance.

“Tom-Thumb” is another representative of the graceful zinnia. Miniature bushes (35-45 cm) resemble “Little Red Riding Hood” with their bright red inflorescences that do not fade in the sun. However, compared to the spherical or rounded inflorescences characteristic of Rotcopchen, Tom-Thumb inflorescences appear flatter.

“Short staff” is one of the lowest even among low-growing varieties, its height up to 25 cm is covered with rather large (up to 10 cm) multi-colored inflorescences (cherry and coral colors, red and white).

Bouquet zinnia

For gardeners, zinnia is a unique plant. It can be grown both in a flowerbed and in a pot. The flower also performs well when cut, and can delight you with its appearance for up to 14 days. A bouquet of zinnias is especially valuable because the flower is odorless and will not cause discomfort to people for whom the floral smell causes headaches.

In order to grow zinnia, a bouquet of which is pleasant to give as a gift, it is recommended to use a mixture of zinnia cut varieties.

California giants (Californishe Risen) - a mixture ideal for cutting. Tall bushes (from 90 to 100 cm) impress with large (14-15 cm) inflorescences of a wide variety of colors. Among the Giants there are flowers white, yellow, creamy and lilac, red and different shades of this color - orange and purple, pink and salmon. Flowers can retain their spectacular appearance in a vase for up to 10-12 days.

Cactus-shaped zinnia - due to its high growth up to 90 cm, it is excellent for cutting. Straight stems, large flowers, unusually shaped petals. Long flowering - from June to September, stands for a long time when cut in water.

An attractive flower occupies one of the main places in the design of a site for many specialists.

Professionals suggest following some recommendations that will allow zinnias to look most impressive on your site.

• It is preferable to use the plant for group plantings, although zinnia looks beautiful when planted individually.
• Tall varieties are most suitable for mixborders; for borders, use low-growing zinnia.
• If you like a design that embodies a rustic style, use zinnia in combination with the following flowers: aster, marigold, calendula, bluebell, chamomile, chrysanthemum.
• Use zinnia for single plantings in the garden, in a bed with vegetables, table greens. A bright spot will be expressive against a green background, and in addition will become an additional source of attracting insects for pollination.
• Linear plantings of zinnias look good, they are a kind of separators for vegetable beds or are planted along garden buildings and garden paths.

Zinnia angustifolia

low growing zinnia

Zinnia Fantasy

Zinnia pompom

Experienced flower growers know: zinnia responds to care and care with beauty until frost.

Zinnia is considered an excellent choice for any garden, as this flower has a truly unique and vibrant appearance. It becomes a decoration of the area, 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 apex. They are equipped with stiff hairs, and can be arranged oppositely or whorled.
• The 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 have a reed shape. 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 tuft.

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

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 areas together with other flowers, without requiring specific and constant care.

Types and varieties of zinnia

Zinnia comes in numerous varieties, and each variety has many unique varieties. Before purchasing any variety, it is recommended to evaluate its parameters in order to know in advance about the peculiarities of care.

Zinnia graceful

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

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

Zinnia Violet

• Lavender Queen. It has a spreading 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 tint.

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

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

Elegant zinnia is available 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 erect 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 their diameter is no more than 4 cm. In most cases they have monochromatic colors. They often have a bright orange hue, with some varieties having red spots at the ends of the petals. Flowering begins at the end of June and continues until the coldest weather.

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-shaped, and at the base they have a dark orange color, and at the ends they have a reddish tint.

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

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

Zinnia - growing from seeds

This plant can be grown 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 the competent process of growing zinnia, certain rules and recommendations are taken into account:

• The plant can be grown by seeds only in those areas where in May there are no frosts at night, since at a temperature of -1 degree the seeds in the soil will die;
• if the territory is located in a region where there is a possibility of night frosts even in June, then it is recommended to buy zinnia seedlings or grow them yourself, for which they are grown at home, since if the seedlings are properly planted and hardened, they will take root well and quickly in open ground;
• before using 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 literally in 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 threes, and it is advisable to deepen them by about 1 cm, and for this, peat pots are selected, into which a moist substrate is placed in advance;
• the crops are watered with a small amount of water;
• pots of zinnia are moved to a well-lit place;
• It is advisable 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! Placing zinnia seeds in threes allows you to avoid picking in the future, and this process can harm even the remaining plants.

In order for the seedlings to grow quickly, it is important to provide them with plenty of sunlight. At the end of May, it is necessary to begin to harden the resulting seedlings, which will have a positive effect on their planting in the future. Hardening involves taking the pots outside during the daytime for a short period of time.

Planting zinnia in open ground

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

To ensure that the process of planting seedlings is correct, the recommendations of experts are taken into account:

• Planting zinnia in open ground can only begin after spring frosts have completely stopped, so usually mid-June is chosen for this, but the prevailing temperature outside must be additionally taken into account;
• a distance of 30 cm must be left between the flowers;
• It is necessary to replant plants together with a lump of earth, and zinnia tolerates this process quite easily;
• after about 2.5 months, you can observe the zinnia blooming, and the flowers themselves last quite a long time, since often even after 30 days they delight with their unique appearance;
• After the start of flowering, approximately two months must pass for the seeds to ripen, and if they are collected in time and stored correctly, they will remain viable for three to four years.

Thus, planting zinnias 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 a rock garden and rock garden.

Zinnia - care

Zinnias are considered low-maintenance plants, so they are actually easy to care for. To do this, only a few rules are taken into account:

• the soil needs regular loosening, and during this process care must be taken to ensure that no damage is caused to the stems or roots of the plant;
• zinnias must be weeded to remove weeds;
• if the summer is dry, then it is important to provide the flowers with abundant watering, and it is carried out directly at the root of the plant, and this procedure is not allowed to be repeated too often;
• when watering zinnias, you need to make sure that water does not get on the flowers themselves;
• after flowering begins, 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 necessary to use supports or tying for it, but these procedures are certainly carried out for weak flowers;
• Before planting zinnia in open ground, the seedlings must be fed, for which mineral fertilizers are used, and they should not contain 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 carried out twice during the summer.

Important! If you want zinnia to bush, then it should be pinched while still in seedlings, and it is also possible to perform this process after planting in open ground, but only after the flowers have taken root and taken root.

Zinnia after flowering

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

Important! It is recommended to identify in advance several inflorescences that opened first, so that in the future they can be used to obtain seeds, and this is due to the fact that the shoots of the first order produce the highest quality seeds.

We must wait until the ripe zinnia baskets acquire a dark brown color. Next, they are cut and thoroughly dried. The seeds are dried, which are then stored in a warm and dry place, and it is important that the temperature remains constant.

Diseases and pests of zinnia

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

• common pests are chafers, slugs and aphids;
• It is recommended to install small bowls filled with beer on the territory, since this drink attracts gastropods, after which the mollusks will have to be collected by hand;
• May beetles are also collected by hand, after which they are immersed in water with a soap solution;
• To destroy aphids, a solution consisting of water and tar soap is purchased, and if there is a severe 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 quickly eliminate all infected zinnia leaves, and it is often necessary to remove the entire plant if the disease has spread to all the leaves.

Fungicides are used to treat fusarium and gray rot.

Important! Various diseases are usually associated with poor care during the cultivation of zinnia, and can also result from 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 gardeners, as well as ensure proper care of the plants. This guarantees that they will grow beautiful, bright and strong, so they will delight with their unsurpassed appearance.

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

All types of this plant have common features:

• inflorescence height from 30 to 90 cm;
• lanceolate-shaped leaf blades with slight pubescence, located on the stems in opposite order;
• inflorescences are solitary, in the form of apical baskets with a diameter of 3 to 14 cm;
• peduncles are smooth, thickened in the upper part;
• receptacle cone-shaped;
• the wrapper of the baskets is imbricated, multi-row;
• the flowers on the outside are reed-shaped in a variety of colors, the inside ones are tubular, the color varies from yellow to brown.

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

The best varieties to grow in the garden

Gardeners who decide to decorate their plots with beautiful flowering plants are faced with a truly limitless choice. Even if you take two particularly popular varieties of this crop - graceful 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;
• pompons;
• fantasy;
• scabiosa;
• chrysanthemum-shaped;
• Gaillardiolaceae.

Photo gallery

Zinnia: cultivation and care (video)

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

Variety name	Species affiliation	Group	Color, flower size
Orange Kenig	Graceful	Dahlia	Large baskets with a diameter of up to 15 cm are painted red-orange.
Jowita	Graceful	Dahlia	Large inflorescences with velvety dark burgundy petals
Kirke	Graceful	Dahlia	Bright yellow spherical inflorescences
Lilliput Jem	Graceful	Pompons	Globular dense inflorescences of all shades of yellow, orange and pink
Thumbelina	Graceful	Pompons	The flowers are small, in various shades of red and yellow-orange.
Chippendale	Narrow-leaved	Chrysanthemum-shaped	Dark burgundy flowers with a deep orange rim
Star Yellow	Narrow-leaved	Chrysanthemum-shaped	Sunny yellow daisies
Profusion	Hybrid of graceful and narrow-leaved zinnia	Chrysanthemum-shaped	Cute “daisies” in various shades of yellow and red

The varieties belonging to the group of dahlia zinnias have the largest sizes. Pompons, on the contrary, grow in the form of compact spherical bushes. Thanks to such diversity, these flowers have found wide application in landscape design.

The use of zinnias in the design of flower beds and gardens

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

Low-growing zinnias with varied 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 distinguished by its unpretentiousness and high endurance to unfavorable 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 areas are selected for them that are illuminated by direct sunlight at least 4 hours a day.

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

Sowing time

This plant reproduces mainly by seeds. In the southern regions, direct sowing into the ground is practiced, and in more northern regions (middle zone, 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 Black Sea coast zone, sowing can be done from mid-April;
• in the northern part of the Caucasus region and the Volga region - no earlier than the beginning of May;
• in the Non-Black Earth Region and the Middle Zone - in the second or third ten days of May;
• in Siberia and the Urals - in the first ten days of June.

Zinnia seedlings are 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 - no earlier than the end of April, beginning of May. Shoots appear very quickly, within 2-3 days. The seedlings do not need to be planted before being placed in the ground, but it is definitely worthwhile to bury the sprout during planting.

Planting scheme

Zinnias are plants that are quite tolerant of the proximity of neighboring crops. However, they require enough space for normal growth and development. When planting 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-growing varieties - 20 cm in rows, up to 30 cm between them;
• for low-growing compact varieties - 10-15 cm in rows, at least 15 cm between them.

Because of their brave appearance, zinnias are called majors or affectionately “majors.” The huge variety of varieties and unpretentiousness in cultivation have attracted the attention of flower growers for several centuries. If you didn’t plant majors this year, be sure to do so next year, and you won’t regret it.

Variety of zinnias

In decorative floriculture, varieties of graceful zinnia are most often used. This is the most famous species, especially popular for cutting. Strong hollow stems, large leaves and semi-double inflorescences (in some varieties up to 12 cm in diameter) with dense shiny “petals” - everything is very solid and not at all similar to that really elegant zinnia with small inflorescences that appeared in Europe at the end of the 18th century .

Zinnia color mix

Modern catalogs present 4 types of zinnias: graceful (Zinnia elegans), narrow-leaved (Z. angustifolia), or Hage (Z. haageana), thin-flowered (Z. tenuiflora) And linearis (Z. linearis).

There is a garden classification, according to which, depending on the height of the stem, all varieties are divided into:

• tall (60-90 cm),
• medium (35-50 cm),
• and dwarf (15-30cm).

Tall ones are used mainly for cutting - they look bulky in a flower garden. Low-growing, with well-branching bushes, especially from the group " Lilliput", are universal and suitable for flower beds, containers, potted plants, and cutting flowers - they make especially bright and colorful bouquets.

The inflorescences can be any color except blue: white, cream, yellow, pink, salmon-colored, orange, brick red, scarlet, raspberry, burgundy and lilac-pink. Some flowers have "petals" that are creamy yellow underneath.

Varieties obtained from zinnia gracilis , are divided into several garden groups:

• pompons (Lilliputians),
• fantasy

Zinnia graceful

In Russia, the most common varieties are dahlias and pompoms; plants of the fantasy group are used less frequently.

Dahlias - powerful, spreading or compact bushes 60-90 cm high. The flowers are reed-shaped, with a rounded edge, located one on top of the other like a tile, the inflorescences are densely double. Cut zinnias stay fresh and sell better than dahlias.

There are varieties with a rare color of inflorescences: carmine - " Crimson Monarch", lilac - " Dream", coral pink - " Hallo"and purple, iridescent with a bluish tint - " Purple Prince"The height of these plants is 80 cm, the inflorescences are huge, the size of a saucer - up to 12 cm in diameter.

Cactaceae - the petals of these zinnias are slightly curled lengthwise, so their inflorescences could be called “needle-shaped”.

The most interesting in this group are: variety series Giant Cactus Flowers Mixed- plants with strong stems 65-90 cm high and yellow, orange, scarlet and dark red inflorescences with a diameter of about 12 cm.

Scabiosaceae - their inflorescences are quite unusual: numerous tubular flowers collected in the center and framed by a cuff of reed flowers. One of the representatives of this group is the variety series Scabious Flowered Mixed- stem height 60-75 cm, large inflorescences, colors - scarlet, orange, pink and cream.

Pompons - bushes 40-55 cm high, with small, round, double inflorescences. As they bloom, the ends of the lower petals turn up and the flowers become pom-pom-like.

To series Oklahoma includes 5 varieties of different colors. These zinnias will make great decorations for large rooms. In the mix Desert Sun Mixed orange are also presented. do not create a feeling of massiveness, so the variety is quite suitable for a mixed border of summer trees, as well as for a “hedge” or for. It is better to look at them from a certain distance or from above, for example, from a balcony. Bright and joyful, they are able to lift your spirits even on a gloomy day.

Pompon zinnias

Another well-known species, suitable exclusively for flower beds, is zinnia Hage (Z. haageana). The most famous variety series Persian Carpet Mixed, with semi-double, bicolor inflorescences (red - with white, yellow, orange, lemon). This mixture is most often planted in large masses, and it really resembles variegated oriental carpets.

For usually choose thin-flowered zinnia (Z. tenuiflora) - bushes about 60 cm high with thin, geniculate, reddish stems. This plant has small (up to 3 cm in diameter) inflorescences, the “petals” are narrow, bent outward, with curled tips, and dark red.

The smallest cultivated zinnia is zinnia linearis (Z. Linearis). Sometimes this particular species is presented as angustifolia zinnia. Branching, dense, almost spherical bushes up to 35 cm tall, with dark green, narrow leaves, similar to the tips of nail scissors. The inflorescences are simple, small, but with an original color - orange with a yellow edge. There are only a few varieties: Caramel- with caramel-yellow, “transparent” color of the petals and a black, pointed center; Golden Eye- inflorescences like those of a pharmaceutical chamomile - white with a yellow center. Zinnia linearis can be grown in small flower beds, on a balcony in a large pot or on an alpine hill.

As a result of crossing zinnia gracilis And zinnia angustifolia Numerous hybrid varieties have been obtained. In particular, the series Profusion Mixed- bushes 30-35 cm high, covered with small multi-colored “daisies”. Among the new varieties we will name Swizzle Scarlet and Yellow And Swizzle Cherry and Ivory, which we meet under the name " Carousel"These are plants 60 cm high with large double, bicolor inflorescences, the “petals” of which taper at the ends, like Hage zinnias.

Zinnias in landscape design

Zinnias are used in mixborders, borders, multi-tiered garden compositions, for container gardening of balconies,
loggias and terraces. Thanks to the huge variety of varieties, they can easily fit into any garden, planted in separate tracts, creating a colorful “oriental carpet” from them, or covering empty areas between plants to soften the transitions between complex crops.

Zinnia Planting Ideas

Growing zinnias

Growing zinnias is not at all difficult. The main thing is that they receive enough light and warmth. Only the plants need to be watered and fed throughout the summer - they need strength for lush flowering. Although, keep in mind that zinnia is a drought-resistant plant, so it will more easily tolerate a lack of water than its excess. Water it carefully so that moisture does not get on the inflorescences. In the middle zone, it is better to grow zinnias through seedlings, then they will bloom in June - early July. Seeds for seedlings are sown in March-April.

One of the interesting options for growing zinnia seedlings is sowing “Moscow-style seedlings”. In this case, zinnia seedlings will take up very little space, but will bloom earlier than those sown in the ground.

7 reasons to plant zinnia

This is one of the most popular flowers all over the world: it is one of the ten most common annuals.
. Zinnia is part of the world's cultural heritage. Its culture began with the Aztecs. At the end of the 18th century, it ended up in the collection of the botanical garden of the Swedish University in Uppsala. In 1759, Carl Linnaeus described the genus “zinnia” and gave it a name after his student Johann Gottfried Zinn, and already at the end of the 18th century, botanists were actively engaged in selection. The first terry zinnia was bred in 1856.
. There are many varieties and hybrids, with a huge variety of colors, not just blues and purples.
. Blooming zinnias attract butterflies: literally hundreds of them flock to the motley carpets of bright flowers. In the USA, they even set up special farms where zinnias are planted to attract butterflies. Butterfly Garden - quite popular now
direction of landscape design. In addition to zinnias, you can plant verbena, monarda, lavender, saplings and other ornamental plants here.
. Zinnias are very unpretentious. When they began to be grown in Europe, they even received the nickname “poor man’s flower” because they required almost no care. Having planted once, the next year you can simply scatter the ripened seeds in the fall. Plants from their seeds will be less compact than their parents and the flowers will be smaller. But such zinnias will fit perfectly into a Naturgarden style garden.
. Zinnias are great in bouquets. The more flowers you cut from a zinnia, the more flowers will form.
. Each zinnia flower, regardless of the weather, lasts about a month.

Zinnias Attract Butterflies

By secret

If you want to prolong the flowering of zinnia and give yourself summer, then carefully dig up a low-growing bush and plant it in a pot. In the room, such a bouquet should be kept on a sunny windowsill.

Among dahlia-flowered zinnias, the variety is very popular Dream up to 90 cm high with a large pink-lavender flower (1) . Variety mixture of zinnia cactus Harvest Good Luck includes pink, red and orange inflorescences with a diameter of 6-10 cm and a height of 70-75 cm (2) . But what stands out especially among the cactus-like zinnias is Emperor variety- plant up to 75 cm high and inflorescence diameter up to 15 cm (3) ! Quite recently, the seeds of a rather spectacular scabiosa plant appeared on sale. zinnias New Attraction, 40-50 cm high with abundant and long flowering (4) . Also among the new varieties are Swizzle Scarlet and Yellow and Swizzle Cherry and Ivory, which we meet under the name “Carousel”. These are plants 60 cm high with bicolor inflorescences (5) .

Zinnia varieties

Zinnia is a plant from the Asteraceae family. All species of the genus Zinnia are native to the Western Hemisphere. The genus includes about twenty species of herbs, shrubs and subshrubs. Most of its representatives in their homeland are perennial plants. In the temperate climate of the Eastern Hemisphere, they are grown as annual plants.

Biological description

Zinnia is an ornamental plant that can be used for various solutions in gardens, parks and lawns . These beautiful flowers look very similar to asters, however, they have one undeniable advantage: The flowering time of a single zinnia flower can be from 35 to 40 days, which can be called an absolute record even among annual plants.

Planting zinnia in our climate can be done both in open ground and with the help of seedlings; the plant requires minimal care and we can say that it grows with virtually no human intervention. Currently, zinnias are becoming increasingly popular, since relatively recently they were appreciated by flower growers and right now their new varieties are being formed.

Despite the fact that this plant arrived in Europe more than three hundred years ago, it has not gained much popularity. This was most likely due to the difficulty of breeding its new varieties or hybrids. Gardeners were unable to carry out even the most basic artificial selection, so they were satisfied with the relatively small diversity of existing wild and cultivated species.

No more than 100 years ago, ways to obtain new zinnia hybrids were found, and the market began to gradually become saturated with these beautiful flowers. A completely easy-to-care annual with its beautiful appearance and almost complete lack of care and requirements for growing conditions, it immediately won the hearts of many representatives of the world of floristry.

Zinnia is a plant that provides the gardener with a fairly wide choice in height, density and spreading of the bushes. The shades of its flowers are represented by almost all colors, except, perhaps, black.

The size of the plant, depending on the type and variety, can reach from 20 to 150 cm. The diameter of its flowers can also vary greatly: from tiny flowers with six petals with a diameter of 2 cm to spherical giants measuring 18 by 16 cm, with more than 200 petals in one inflorescence.

The stem of the plant is straight, with practically no branches. The leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem at equal intervals. Their surface is covered with barely noticeable hairs. The root system is quite developed and penetrates deeply into the soil.

The plant is thermophilic, loves sunny places protected from the wind. Tolerates drought and low humidity well. The only factor limiting the spread of this plant in our climate is temperature. Already at temperatures below +10°C, the life cycle of the plant slows down significantly, and a further decrease, even short-term, leads to the death of the plant.

Plant propagation in our climate is carried out exclusively by seed. Even plants grown at home, like perennials, are much easier to propagate by seeds. The seeds are able to remain viable for several years; in addition, more than a hundred of them are formed from each flower, which is guaranteed to provide new plant material.

Some varieties of zinnia can reproduce by self-sowing. Sometimes this poses quite a serious problem for the gardener, since plants can appear in the most unexpected places in the garden or flower garden. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to regularly inspect the plants and collect ripe fruits, preventing them from spreading seeds.

Despite the plant’s vulnerability to low temperatures, the number of seeds from one bush can “populate” about one and a half hundred square meters of area, and removing zinnia from there will be quite problematic.

Growing conditions

An arid climate, a long absence of watering and a long exposure to the sun are the natural living conditions of the plant. It is in such conditions that zinnia feels great, grows and blooms profusely. In partial shade and shaded areas, zinnia flowering will not be as luxurious, and the stems of the plant will be excessively elongated.

In addition, such conditions significantly suppress the formation of leaves and the plant will look completely inconspicuous. Strong winds also do not help improve the appearance of zinnia - under their influence the bushes become low and very dense due to the large amount of leaf mass. Therefore, the ideal place for growing would be the sunny side of the site, limited along the perimeter by natural fences that prevent strong gusts of wind.

The sunny side of the plot is an ideal place for growing

The composition and fertility of the soil are not critical for zinnia - it can grow on almost any soil. The plant is able to manifest itself most fully on soils with neutral or weak acidity, however, this is not critical: the plant can obtain most of the substances necessary for life itself through the processes of photosynthesis.

If you are growing a plant at home, any light and loose soil for flowers is suitable. It can be purchased at the store, or you can make it yourself from a mixture of equal proportions of leaf soil, peat and sand. As a last resort, you can even use loamy soil mixed with sand in a ratio of 3 to 1.

A much more important factor for the normal growth of zinnia is temperature. For normal growth, flowering and fruiting, it is necessary that the daily temperature ranges from +18°C to +22°C. The plant will feel comfortable even at elevated temperatures, however, lowering the temperature to +10°C can be fatal for the plant.

graceful zinnia

That is why planting a plant in open ground should be done only when the likelihood of cold snaps and frosts is minimal. It is believed that the timing of planting seeds in open ground should not occur earlier than the second half of May. The average time for budding to begin is 2 months after planting, therefore, in order for the plant to bloom in mid-June, it must be planted in April.

In most of the territory corresponding to a temperate climate, such dates are still too early, since the likelihood of frost remains. Therefore, it is recommended to grow zinnia using seedlings, planting young plants in open ground around the middle or end of May.

Planting a plant in seedlings

The optimal time for planting zinnia seeds for seedlings will be mid-April. Later plantings can lead to the fact that at the time of planting in open ground the plant will already begin the process of budding, and overripe seedlings take root much worse.

For seeds, you need to choose wide boxes with a depth of at least 10-12 cm. Since seedlings grow mainly upward, the distance between the seeds can be chosen to be quite compact - no more than 3 cm. The seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of about 1-1.5 cm, after which they are covered with soil and watered with a spray bottle. After this, you need to cover the box with film or glass to create greenhouse conditions. As soil, you can use any mixture for seedlings, or make a composition of peat and sand in a 1 to 1 ratio.

After the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the box is placed in a sunny place with a temperature of at least +18°C. It is necessary to constantly keep the soil moist. In this case, it is necessary to use the spray again so as not to accidentally wash the seeds from the soil. In this case, you should not “flood” the seedlings; just keep the soil moist.

When the seedlings reach a height of about 10 cm, they must be planted in a separate container. Zinnia tolerates transplantation well, so at this stage there should not be any problems. Young plants are dug up to the cotyledons and transferred to individual pots. In this case, you can additionally stimulate the zinnia horse system for active growth by pinching the root at a level of about 2 cm.

Immediately after the dive, hardening of the plants should begin, placing them for some time in conditions with a temperature 5 ° C lower than the one in which they were grown before. And two weeks before planting in open ground (approximately mid-May), it is necessary to take the plants out into the open air, leaving them there every day for an hour more than on the previous day.

When the bushes are hardened, they must be planted in open ground. Tall varieties are planted in increments of about 30-40 cm, low-growing and spreading ones - 20-30 cm. About a week after the young plants have adapted sufficiently, you can pin them at a level of 3-5 cm from the crown.

Such an operation will make the plant more spreading and develop additional side shoots, after which the bush will become more decorative and dense. Sometimes a similar procedure is done at the hardening stage - pinching is done a little above the fifth leaf on the seedlings.

Planting a plant in open ground

If weather conditions permit, zinnia seeds can be planted directly into the flower bed. At the same time, seed germination will not differ much from the seedling growing method. However, in this case there will be much less worry about planting material.

Planting seeds should only be done when the likelihood of cold snaps or frosts is negligible. It is usually believed that May 15 is a sufficient time for planting zinnias in open ground in our climate.

In the flower bed, beds are made with a depth of 1.5 to 2 cm. The distance between plants is chosen the same as recommended earlier (30 cm large, 20 cm small). After planting, the beds are watered, which is done daily for a month after planting. As in the case of seedlings, to avoid washing out the seeds, it is necessary to use a spray bottle.

Plant care

Zinnia is unpretentious, however, it is better to know and follow some rules for caring for it. It is necessary to regularly water with a small amount of water and loosen the soil around the bushes of the plant to a depth of 2-3 cm. This will provide the roots with the necessary moisture and breathing, which will stimulate the plant to form new flowers.

Watering should be carried out at a time when there is no scorching sun. This can be either in the evening or in the morning. You can also water the plants on a cloudy day.

Young plants are watered from a spray bottle. To water adult plants, use a watering can with a narrow spout. During the budding period, it is necessary to especially carefully monitor soil moisture.

It is recommended to prune the plant to produce more buds. It is necessary to collect seeds regularly; firstly, this will preserve the plant’s decorative appearance, and, secondly, it will prevent self-seeding.

The plant is fertilized twice per season. For the first time it is produced in late autumn of the year preceding zinnia planting. Organic fertilizers (compost, humus, mullein solution) are applied to the site and the site is carefully dug up. In this case, for example, there is no need to add manure, since it is too active a substance and such powerful support for an ornamental crop is simply not needed.

Grown in outdoor pots

Second fertilizer demolished at the moment of budding. This should be a complex mineral fertilizer, or a mixture of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. But, in no case should you apply nitrogen fertilizers during budding. They will force the plant to increase its green part, and the formation of new buds and flowering will slow down significantly.

There is an alternative feeding scheme for zinnia, consisting of four edges. This scheme consists of the following: two more fertilizers are added to the ones already mentioned. The first is produced a month before budding. In this case, a urea solution is applied under the plants in a concentration half the recommended one.

This is due to the fact that a very young plant, actually a seedling, will be fertilized. The second feeding repeats the feeding during budding, but is applied a month after it. It is also recommended, against the background of fertilizing that accompanies budding, to additionally irrigate the buds on the plants with a special preparation “Bud”.

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Diseases

One of the main problems of the plant is its vulnerability to powdery mildew. This disease is quite easy to recognize: with it, the leaves and stems of the plant become covered with a peculiar gray coating. The reasons for its appearance can be very different: violation of plant care conditions, insect attacks, excessive watering, etc. Plants in humid conditions are especially vulnerable to this disease. Most often, powdery mildew affects plants during periods of cold and rainy summer.

The disease can be defeated with the help of modern fungicides. The main thing is to prevent its reoccurrence in the future. To do this, it is necessary to change the conditions of the plant and adjust the watering.

In addition, the plant can sometimes be affected by fusarium and root rot. As a rule, the main causes of such diseases are associated with the same thing as powdery mildew - high humidity. Adjusting the watering regime and regularly loosening the soil after watering are the best preventive measures against such diseases.

Varieties

Zinnia species diversity is relatively low. There are about two dozen species, of which only 4 are widely used in landscape design. It was on their basis that the currently existing varietal subspecies and hybrids were created.

It is a nomenclature type of zinnia and has the greatest distribution. In another way, this species is also called “elegant zinnia.” Botanists in England and Ireland officially call it "youth-and-oldness", most likely similar to coltsfoot, due to the varying degrees of hairiness of the leaves.

The plant is a typical representative of the Asteraceae, originating from Mexico. The flower is an annual, even in its homeland. Depending on the variety, its height ranges from 30 to 130 cm. The stems are predominantly unbranched. They have a round cross-section and are covered with a small edge.

Leaves

The plants have an elongated ovoid shape, slightly pointed at the tips. The leaf size is 5-7 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The leaves have slight pubescence, different on the upper and lower parts of the leaf.

Flowers

Plants are collected in inflorescences-baskets. They are quite large - from 5 to 16 cm in diameter. At the same time, depending on the variety and growing conditions, flower petals can be either simple or double. It is believed that when left for a long time without moisture, the terry nature of the petals disappears.

Bloom

Plants grow in the second half of summer, but can last from the end of July until frost. The first ripe zinnia seeds appear approximately 8-10 weeks after the start of flowering.

The plant has relatively large seeds, their dimensions are 10-15 mm in length and about 6 mm in width. At the same time, the seeds are always flattened. Their shape can be very diverse - from narrow and long to oval and round. One gram contains about 150 seeds. Germination rate above 85% is maintained for the first two years, then drops slightly. It is best to plant seeds within the first year after collecting them.

Often designers are faced with the fact that seeds may germinate unevenly. Therefore, the appearance of a plot with zinnias may be slightly spoiled by less beautiful and undersized specimens. To avoid such troubles, it is recommended to select seeds for flower carpets from the apical basket of the central shoot of zinnia. It is believed that seeds from this shoot have the highest germination rate.

The plant does not interbreed with other zinnia species under natural conditions, however, there are ways to do this indirectly. Thanks to this, many varieties of this plant were obtained.

Elegant zinnia contains three groups of varietal varieties, united by common characteristics:

• dahlia group
• pompom group
• fantasy group

Zinnia dahlia It is a large bush, about 1 m high, with large leaves about 12-15 cm long. It is distinguished by large spherical inflorescences, about 15 cm in diameter. The inflorescences contain many double petals. The shape of the flower and its colors are very diverse.

For normal growth, this species requires not only a well-lit area and regular watering, but also fertilizing. They are applied in the form of organic fertilizers in the fall, as well as in the form of mineral fertilizers immediately before flowering.

Most varieties of dahlia zinnia are inhabitants of warm climates. In temperate climates, only a few varieties do well outdoors.

Pompom group consists of low plants, no more than 50 cm in height. They have dense and compact bushes with a large number of stems. The size of the flowers is small - about 4 cm; the flowering of the plant begins in all flowers almost simultaneously.

Representatives of the Fantasy group

Group Fantasy consists of plants of medium height (up to 70 cm), with relatively large leaves and flowers. The diameter of the flowers is about 10 cm. The shape of the structure of the Fantasia flowers resembles dahlia flowers. The difference is that its flowers are able to bloom to their maximum, arching in different directions. Sometimes they are distinguished by non-standard colors or special leaf shapes.

Zinnia Barpis

It is a terry variety with various shades of petals. The plant is very decorative. Its flowers have a diameter of up to 13 cm, they have a flattened spherical shape. The plant is characterized by long flowering and good cutting resistance. If, after cutting, you put the flowers in hot water, they can stand in it with virtually no loss of appearance for about 3 weeks.

The plant has long and strong stems that do not require staking. It is best to plant bushes in well-lit areas, since with a lack of light the stems can stretch significantly and the flower size will be small.

The variety is heat-loving; in order to avoid frost when caring for it, it begins to be grown in early March in the form of seedlings. Flowering with this method of cultivation begins in June.

The diameter of Carousel flowers reaches 12 cm, and the height of their stems rarely exceeds 50 cm. The inflorescences are usually double. Flowering begins in the first ten days of July, provided the plant is grown as seedlings and planted in mid-March. When planted in open ground in May, flowering occurs in mid-August. Flowering can be prolonged by removing faded inflorescences.

Loves soils fertilized in the fall with rotted manure or mullein. This variety is calciphilous (that is, it prefers slightly or moderately alkaline soils), which is a rare case in the floriculture of our latitudes. Does not tolerate shadows or strong winds. The ideal place for planting is a well-protected southern slope of the site.