Zinnia elegans

Zinnia elegans — la espectacular especie amante del calor que da origen a la mayoría de las zinnias de jardín para corte, originaria de México y nombrada en honor al botánico J. G. Zinn. El hogar botánico de nuestra colección de zinnias.

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Zinnia elegans — the common zinnia

Zinnia elegans is the botanical name for the common or elegant zinnia, the bold, heat-loving annual behind most of the dazzling zinnias we grow for cutting. It is the species at the heart of our zinnia range within the flower seed collection and a top cut flower.

History & origin

The zinnia is native to Mexico, where the wild plant is a fairly modest, single-flowered daisy — the Aztecs grew it, though it was not greatly prized at first. It was named in honour of Johann Gottfried Zinn, an 18th-century German botanist who studied it. From the 19th century onwards, breeders transformed the species into the huge, fully double, jewel-coloured flowers we know today, making it one of the most popular and rewarding cut flowers in the world.

Its species name fits the result perfectly: elegans means “elegant.”

Botanical characteristics

An upright annual from compact bedding types to tall cutting varieties, Zinnia elegans bears flowers in single, semi-double and fully double forms, in virtually every colour but true blue. It thrives in heat and full sun, flowering tirelessly from midsummer to the first frosts, the more so the more it is cut. Bees and butterflies flock to the open faces, so it features among our bee-friendly flowers, while dwarf types shine in our container range.

Growing Zinnia elegans from seed

Zinnias dislike cold and root disturbance, so sow into warm soil where they are to grow, or start in modules and plant out carefully after frost. Give them sun, airflow and water at the base, and keep cutting or deadheading to fuel a long succession of blooms. Our flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the timing.

Ready to grow zinnias? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Zinnia · Cut Flowers · Pollinator Flowers · Bee-Friendly Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zinnia elegans?
It is the common or elegant zinnia, the main species grown as a cut flower.

Where do zinnias originate?
From Mexico, where they were grown by the Aztecs.

Who is the zinnia named after?
Johann Gottfried Zinn, an 18th-century German botanist.

When do zinnias flower?
From midsummer to the frosts — the more you cut, the more they bloom.

How do I grow them?
Sow into warm soil in full sun, water at the base, and keep cutting or deadheading.