Easy-growing zinnias can take the heat as stars of summertime
Oh, if only I could be more like a zinnia.
While I have been wilting in summer’s heat and humidity, my zinnias remain unfazed.
Although I’m a magnet for mosquitoes and other biting and stinging insects, zinnias attract few, if any, problem bugs.
And you would hardly compare me to a lovely flower after I’ve been toiling outside all morning — yet zinnia flowers look fresh and cheerful whatever the day brings.
Native to Mexico and surrounding areas, these colorful annuals thrive in high temperatures, making them ideal for sultry Midwest summers. And they are among the easiest annuals to grow, increasing their appeal for gardeners at all levels of experience.
Although zinnias are heirloom flowers that have been cultivated for many decades, breeders are coming out with new cultivars with different traits selected to appeal to today’s gardeners.
They range in size from low-growing dwarfs to 4-foot giants, and in hues from white and yellow to orange, red, pink and purple.
Some kinds feature a single layer of petals and resemble old-fashioned daisies; others are packed with dozens of petals and suggest dahlias or chrysanthemums.
Here are some ideas for incorporating zinnias into your garden:
• Containers: Their drought tolerance and showy flowers make them natural candidates for ornamental pots in full sun.
• Cutting garden: As with many annuals, the more you cut zinnias, the more flowers they will produce.
Blooms can last a week or longer if harvested in the cool of the morning. For the longest stems for flower arranging, grow taller varieties.
• Pollinator garden: Butterflies, hummingbirds and other essential winged creatures just love zinnias.
Once you observe a monarch perch on an open flower and sip nectar, you will vow to plant more.
• Vegetable garden: It’s simple to add color to an all-green vegetable garden by planting a row of zinnias among the lettuce and carrots.
Plus, zinnias might help attract beneficial insects that deter pests.
• Children’s garden: Low-care zinnias are a fun and affordable way to encourage the youngest gardeners. The seeds are easier to handle than many, the plants grow quickly, and the bright flowers invite scrutiny from budding botanists.
• Filling empty spots: Have dormant spring-blooming bulbs left bare areas in your garden? Or are you in the midst of waiting for new perennials to reach mature size?
With little investment of time or money, zinnias eagerly fill unsightly holes.
Growing these bold beauties is straightforward; you don’t have to be an expert gardener to succeed.
They do need full sun and good drainage. Although a little organic fertilizer and compost won’t hurt, zinnias don’t require rich soil. To keep the flowers coming, snip off old ones as they fade.
The best way to add zinnias to your life? In spring, you can start seeds in little pots or purchase seedlings at garden centers, but they grow best when you sow seeds directly outdoors.
Diana Lockwood, a freelance writer covering gardening topics, posts on Facebook at www.facebook. com/mrsgardenperson.