Zinnia

Zinnia elegans and its cultivars are the most commonly grown of the genus Zinnia which are part of the Compositae family which also includes Chrysanthemums, Coneflowers, Marigolds and Shasta Daisies.
A variable annual plant, reaching a maximum size of 4 x 2.5 ( usually under 3 x 1.5 ) feet, bearing very showy, single to double flowers, ranging from 1.5 to 7 inches across. The flowers are borne all summer long and continuing until autumn frosts..
The ovate leaves, up to 5 inches in length, are luxuriant mid green.
There are also many dwarf forms that only reach up to 16 x 12 inches in size.
They are valuable both for bedding plants and containers.
Zinnia thrive in full sun on just about any moist, fertile, well drained soil. They must be planted out during spring after the threat of frost has passed.

* photos taken on July 31 2011 @ Hyde Park, NY










* photos taken on August 2 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on Sep 3 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2013 in Towson, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

* photos taken on Oct 1 2014 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on July 11 2014 in Washington, DC

* photo taken on Aug 31 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Jun 24 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 2 2016 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Aug 9 2018 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 3 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 18 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 13 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Sep 6 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 28 2023 in Columbia, MD

Zinnia angustifolia ( Narrowleaf Zinnia )
A compact annual, reaching up to 16 inches in height. It is used for edging and bedding.
The leaves are pointed and narrow.
The orange flowers are up to 1 inch in width.
It is more drought tolerant than other species.

'White Star'
Larger flowers, up to 2 inches wide, that are white ( centered orange-yellow ).

Zinnia 'Benary's Giant'
An annual, reaching up to 6 feet in height.
The flowers come in a variety of colors. They are usually double but can also be found in single, especially on self seeding plants.

* photo taken on Sep 26 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

Zinnia elegans
An erect annual, reaching up to 3 feet in height, that is native to Mexico.
The stem clasping, ovate leaves, up to 4 inches in length, are rough and mid-green.
The very showy flowers up to 6 inches wide, can be of many colors.

'Big Red'
Reaches up to 3 feet in height, with huge, deep red flowers up to 6 inches wide.

Zinnia grandiflora ( Prairie Zinnia )
A tough, long-lived, low growing, mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 4 inches x 1.5 feet, that is native from Arizona to Colorado; south to New Mexico. It emerges late during the spring when hot weather arrives so planting with early spring bulbs is recommended to extend the season of color.
The linear leaves, up to 1 inch long, are green.
The intense yellow flowers, up to 1.5 inches wide, are borne late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on very well drained soil. It is extremely heat tolerant and also drought / wind tolerant. The Prairie Zinnia is rabbit and deer resistant.

* USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

* photo taken by Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Zinnia haageana ( Mexican Zinnia )
An annual, reaching up to 2 feet in height.
The narrow leaves are mid-green.
The flowers, up to 2.5 inches wide, can be either single or double. They can be yellow, orange, deep red or multiple colors.

Zinnia marylandica 'Zahara Fire'
One of the Zahara series of annual Zinnias that were introduced in 2009. The Zahara series are exceptionally mildew and leaf spot resistant and have extra large flowers that can be either single or double and in a variety of colors. They reach up to 1.5 x 1.5 feet and bloom all summer long until autumn frost.