Types of Zinnias | Everything You Should Know

Zinnias are a popular flower choice for gardeners and a good reason. They are easy to grow, have long blooming periods, and are attractive additions to any garden. This post will explore the different types of zinnias and what makes them such a great choice for gardeners. We hope this information will help you decide which zinnia is right for your garden!

4 Main Zinnia Types

Single Flowered

Zinnias with one flower have only one row of petals. This type of flower shows the middle of each one.

Semi-Doubled Flowered

This type of flower has a lot of rows of petals. The middle of each flower is open and easy to see.

Fully-Double Flowered

Fully double-flowered zinnias have flowers with several rows of petals. The center of each flower can’t be seen because the petals hide it.

Cactus Flowered

Cactus flowers came into bloom at this time. Zinnias have long flowers. Because each petal rolls toward the underside, the flower created is one of a kind due to the twisting motion.

SubTypes According to Height and Spread

Depending on their height and spread, zinnias are categorized into many subtypes. They might be as short as miniatures or as tall as cut flowers. There are two primary categories of zinnias, one with upright, tall growth with enormous flowers and the other with sprawling growth and smaller flowers. Some third form exists that combines features of the first two.

Dwarf Zinnias

When fully mature, Dwarf Zinnias stand only about 10 inches (25 cm) tall, making them ideal for use in flower borders. Because of their adaptability and low profile, these short plants thrive when mixed in with other annuals, perennials, and shrubs. Even though the plants stay compact all season long, this does not foretell the size of the flowers that will open. The zinnia variety you choose to grow will determine the size of the flowers you harvest.

Landscape Zinnias

These zinnia plant cultivars are frequently used in landscaping and flower borders, much like dwarf zinnias. These zinnias are a bit more robust, reaching heights of up to 20 inches (50 cm) on average, and they produce a steady stream of blooms all summer long.

• ‘Zahara’ Series: They are more numerous and completely 2 12 inches broad. They sprout up all over extremely compact plants, attracting bees and butterflies to the yard and stunning hot, dry beds and water-starved containers. They only have one flower and bloom in dazzling hues of pink, red, rose, yellow, orange, and white.
• ‘Profusion’ Series: They are bushy annuals that grow to 30 cm and have solitary daisy-like flowers in summer and fall that are red, orange, and deep pink.

Tall and Cut Flower Zinnias

Even though they are grown the same way as other types of zinnias, some are better for use in cut flower gardens than others. These beautiful, tall plants add a lot to the look of a garden and bring in many pollinators. Zinnia plants in the cutting garden can grow over 1 meter (4 feet) tall when fully grown. Even when the blooms are picked to use in flower arrangements and bouquets, the plants will continue to bloom throughout the summer.

• ‘Queen Red Lime’: It’s a beautiful variety of zinnia that has striking red flowers with lime green points on the edges of each petal. It can fill gaps in the border because it can grow up to 60 centimeters tall and does well when shown in container arrangements. It is a beautiful flower to cut and arrange.
• ‘State Fair Mix’: This zinnia is a classic. This tetraploid cultivar is known for its robust growth and huge, showy flowers. Flower size ranges from 3 to 5 inches and resembles a dahlia. This palette has a wide spectrum of red and purple hues, along with white, scarlet, orange, rose, salmon, yellow, and lavender. Vegetation with exceptionally lengthy stems. This bloom can be cut and replanted for future use throughout the season. For local pollinators like bees and butterflies, plant any zinnia.
• ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’: This is what the Specialty Cut Flower Growers Association suggests. Prolific year-round harvesters are unfazed by the widespread summer precipitation and high temperatures. The densely petaled flowers can reach a diameter of 6 inches. Flowers survive a long time, even in a bouquet. Flora can be cut and kept for later use in the season. You can find them in shades of carmine rose, crimson, orange, coral, lime, wine, purple, hot pink, salmon rose, scarlet, white, and gold.
• ‘Giant Cactus Mix’: The astonishing width of the blooms, at 4 or 5 inches, is evidence of their double nature. The tall, strong stems are extremely resilient, keeping these blossoms pointed toward the light for a week or more in the garden or as cut flowers, despite their gigantic size. All summer, you’ll have a new bouquet of colors to enjoy thanks to the various tones of orange, yellow, pink, red, rose, salmon, and white in this blend.
• ‘Burpeeana Giants Mix’: Extremely large semi-double and fully double zinnias in a rainbow of bright, often rare, colors. The diameter of these incredible blossoms can reach up to 6 inches. Long-lasting flowers on sturdy stalks make stunning centerpieces. Strong, well-branched, and flowering plants reach 2 to 3 feet in height.
• ‘Uproar Rose’: These 4 to 5-inch wide and over an inch tall flowers are covered in zingy magenta-rose petals and have a cheery tiny yellow “crown” in the middle.
• ‘Peppermint Stick’: Cinnamon Stick Zinnia seeds grow large, double flowers that resemble dahlias. Pompons in pink, cream, white, and gold are quite vibrant. No two flowers are identical because each has distinctive stripes and darker color flecks. Maximum plant height: 90 cm (36″).

3 Main Zinnia Species

Garden Zinnia

Zinnia elegans

This zinnia variety is perfect for use in a mixed border or as an accent plant in larger flower gardens. It grows to be about 6- 60 inches tall and has striking, upright flowers in various shades of purple and red. They have produced many lovely offspring. They are famous for the huge, colorful flowers they produce in abundance. These plants have oval leaves that are covered with tiny bristles.

The following flowers are all examples of garden zinnias:

• Lilliput Mix: These plants are about 2 feet tall and have flowers that look like they have two petals. About 2 inches across each flower.
• Thumbelina Mix: Small types usually stand between 6 and 10 inches tall.
• Sunbow Mix: These are between 24 and 30 inches tall. Each flower is between 1 and 2 inches wide.
• Lollipop Series: The plants in this series are about 10 inches tall.
• Ruffles Series: The plants in this series look flashy and grow between 24 and 30 inches tall.
• Giant Flowered Mix: These can grow up to 50 inches tall and are resistant to disease. Usually, their flowers are a whopping 5 inches wide.

Spreading Zinnias

Zinnia augustifolia

Zinnias are heat and drought-resistant, and their blooms spread. They can resist widespread foliar diseases. Their height is between 8 and 18 inches, making them quite modest plants. The breadth of their blossoms is only an inch to two inches. Spreading Zinnias don’t have as many different flower types as Garden Zinnias. The flower petals are yellow or orange, while the centers have a deep, almost black color. The leaves of these plants are narrow and lance-shaped. These Zinnias are suitable for hanging baskets. They’re pretty enough to use as yearly ground cover or as a border’s foreground. They aren’t as good for cutting as Garden Zinnias because their stems aren’t as long.

• Star Orange: Star-shaped blossoms adorn graceful zinnia vines. Bees and butterflies are drawn to your flower yard by this. This type attains heights of 14 inches and a width of 8 inches.
• Star Gold: On plants with a looser, more casual appearance, single, star-shaped flowers up to 2 in./5 cm across are present. It tolerates drought, heat, and humidity. Strong enough to swiftly fill a bed, basket, or mixed container. It is resistant to powdery mildew and Alternaria.
• Crystal White: You’ll have a summer full of smiles thanks to this cheerful tiny zinnia, which will produce a profusion of beautiful white flowers. The low-maintenance, luxuriant habit quickly covers a garden space. This AAS winner may reach heights of 8 to 12 inches.

Interspecific Crosses

Garden zinnias and spreading zinnias can be crossed to make interspecific crosses. They have the same flowers as garden zinnias and last as long as spreading zinnias. They are a type of zinnia that doesn’t need much care.

• Rose Pinwheel: It is the most common type of this kind. The flowers with a single bloom are about 3.5 inches wide. Most of the time, the plant is 12 inches tall. In the Pinwheel series, the flowers come in many different colors, such as white, pink on white, and gold.
• Profusion Series: The width of the blossoms is around 2 inches. The height of the plant is about 15 inches. These plants do not require any deadheading because the emerging leaves and buds will, on their own, organically cover the spent blooms.