Summer brings many things, garden harvests, lots of sunshine and summertime heat! Summer also brings the happy blooms of the Zinnia plant. Whenever I see a zinnia flower in bloom, I just have to smile. It seems to be such a happy flower. So, I thought we would take a closer look and learn a few things about the Zinnia flower.
Zinnias are native to both North and South America and are part of the Aster family. They are an annual, which means they complete their life cycle in one growing season. Zinnias can re-seed themselves, but the original plant will not survive when temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). Zinnias come in many colors and can be single, semi-double, or double, referring to the number of petal rows.
When planting Zinnias from seed, be sure not to plant too deeply as Zinnia seeds need light to germinate. Always refer to the recommended seed planting depth on the seed packet. Zinnias prefer full sun but can tolerate some shade if in a warm climate. Soil should be well drained for Zinnias to thrive.
Once flowers begin to bloom, removing the spent flowers (also known as dead heading) will encourage more blooms. Zinnias make great cut flowers, so be sure to cut some Zinnia flowers and bring their beauty indoors. And, as a bonus, cutting Zinnia flowers encourages more blooms. You would want to cut the flower stem just above a set of leaves, where new stems are emerging. This will allow the emerging stem to grow unhindered and produce its own blooms.
If you are planting a pollinator garden, be sure to include Zinnias as they are a major source of food for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Butterflies commonly attracted to zinnias include swallowtails, and monarchs. Zinnias would also make a terrific addition to vegetable gardens for their pollinator attracting capabilities.
Recently, I was taking photos of my zinnias and was confronted by a hummingbird who apparently had dinner plans with the flowers I was trying to photograph. I gracefully backed away and let him enjoy his dinner. Gotta love the hummingbirds!
So why not plant a few Zinnias and see how many smiles they bring into your garden?
Remember, Happiness Grows in the Garden!
-Gram