CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF ONEIDA COUNTY 121 Second Street Oriskany, NY 13424-9799 (315) 736-3394 or (315) 337-2531 FAX: (315) 736-2580 drained soil. They need full sunlight and should be spaced 12" apart. Faded flower heads should be removed. What are its primary problems? Zinnia is often bothered by powdery mildew and Japanese beetles. How do we propagate it? Zinnia (medium height cultivars) Sow seeds indoors 46 weeks before the last Annual Flower frost or outdoors when night temperatures remain above 50 degrees F. Pinch after a Also known as Common Zinnia second set of true leaves have formed. Zinnia elegans medium height Asteraceae Family Site Characteristics Sunlight: This easy-to-grow garden classic delivers full sun blooms in nearly every color of the rainbow. Soil conditions: Plant where air circulation is good to avoid requires well-drained soil late-season disease problems. Plant Traits What about it? Lifecycle: annual Zinnia is an annual and a member of the Ease-of-care: easy Compositae Family. It is named after Johann Height: 1.5 to 2.5 feet G. Zinn, a professor of Botany who taught at Spread: 1 to 2 feet the University of Gottigen in the 1700's. It grows up to 20" and has long (2-3") but Bloom time: narrow leaves in an opposite arrangement. mid-summer The orange, yellow, red, or gold flower heads late summer are 2-6" across. early fall mid-fall What is it used for? Flower color: Zinnia has a long blooming period and grows red easily. It is a broad-spreading, many orange branched plant. Depending on the variety yellow chosen, plants may fit in the mid- or violet background of a flower border. white pink Where does it grow? How do we grow Foliage color: it? medium green Zinnias grow well in moist, fertile, well- Helping You Put Knowledge to Work Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. NYS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, NYS College of Human Ecology, and NYS College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University, Cooperative Extension associations, county governing bodies, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating. dark green back regularly to keep bushy. Late in Foliage texture: medium the season, the plants are often badly Shape: upright covered with unsightly mildew, and Shape in flower: same as above should be removed. Pests: Special Considerations & characteristics: Japanese beetles Spider mites deer resistant Parasitic nematodes non-aggressive non-invasive Diseases: not native to North America - Native Plant in areas with good air circulation to Mexico. to reduce foliar diseases. Attracts: Oedema Powdery mildew butterflies Alternaria leaf spot hummingbirds Viral diseases Special uses: VARIETIES Envy Double’: yellow-green flowers are cut flowers dense and double. Plants are 2’ tall and direct-seeding prefer semi-shaded, protected sites. ‘Lilliput’ Series: 2’ tall plants with small (2” GROWING INFORMATION wide) flowers in shades of white, pink, How to plant: orange, yellow, and red. Propagate by seed - Start seeds ‘Peppermint Stick Mix’: large, double flowers outdoors where desired in spring after are cream or pale yellow with mottling and frost danger has passed, or indoors 4 spotting in red and pink. Plants are 2’ tall. weeks before the last spring frost. ‘Ruffles’ Series: 2’ tall plants with prolific double flowers in pink, red, white and yellow Germination temperature: 70 F to 75 F . Days to emergence: 7 Maintenance and care: Deadhead to prolong blooming. Pinch Source: Some information for this fact sheet was obtained from the NY State Horticulture Study Guide for youth This publication may contain pesticide recommendations. Changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly, some materials mentioned may no longer be available, and some uses may no longer be legal. All pesticides dis- tributed, sold, and/or applied in New York State must be registered with the New York State Department of En- vironmental Conservation (DEC). Questions concerning the legality and/or registration status for pesticide use in New York State should be directed to the appropriate Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialist or your re- gional DEC office. READ THE LABEL BEFORE APPLYING ANY PESTICIDE. Updated 2008 .