Zinnia elegans

Zinnia elegans — the bold, heat-loving species behind most cut-garden zinnias, native to Mexico and named for the botanist J. G. Zinn. The botanical home of our zinnia range.

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  • €4,95

    Lavender annual zinnia for sunny borders zinnia lavendel seeds produce a tall, showy annual with large, fully double blooms in a soft lavender-purple shade. This is a dahlia-flowered type with sturdy stems, making it a...

  • Chrysanthemum Flowered Mix seeds (Zinnia elegans) – annual flower Chrysanthemum Flowered Mix (Zinnia elegans) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    €3,56€4,45

    Annual mix with chrysanthemum-like zinnia blooms zinnia chrysanthemum flowered seeds offer a vibrant annual mix with fully double, chrysanthemum-like flower heads in a wide range of bright, blended shades. This variety is valued for strong...

  • €4,45

    Dahlia Flowered Annual Zinnia For Sunny Borders zinnia seeds are a classic choice for bold, summer-long color in beds, borders, and mixed planting schemes. This dahlia flowered zinnia is known for its large, fully double...

  • Giants Of California Mixed Colors seeds (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix Giants Of California Mixed Colors (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
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    €3,56€4,45

    Mixed annual zinnia flowers for sunny borders zinnia giants of california seeds bring bold, mixed colours to beds and borders with a classic, tall annual display. This variety is known for large, fully double flowers...

  • €4,95

    Lime green annual blooms for summer borders zinnia envy seeds produce distinctive lime green zinnia flowers with a full, dahlia flowered zinnia look that stands out in beds, borders, and mixed planting schemes. This annual...

  • €4,95

    Salmon-orange blooms for sunny summer borders zinnia eldorado seeds bring bold, dahlia-style flowers in a distinctive salmon-orange shade to beds and borders. This annual variety is valued for its full, rounded blooms and upright habit,...

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    Peppermint Stick zinnia for bold borders zinnia peppermint stick seeds are a striking choice for gardeners who want lively, patterned colour in summer displays. This annual flowering variety is known for speckled zinnia flowers with...

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    Compact annual zinnias for sunny small spaces zinnia thumbelina seeds are a compact, low-growing choice for bright seasonal color in beds, borders, and small-space planting. This dwarf zinnia mix produces mixed pastel zinnia flowers on...

  • €6,95

    Queeny Red Lime zinnia for bold borders zinnia queeny red lime seeds produce an eye-catching annual display with distinctive, multi-toned blooms that stand out in beds and mixed plantings. This queeny red lime zinnia is...

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    Vibrant annual zinnia for sunny garden displays zinnia scarlet flame seeds produce a striking annual flower with bright orange-red blooms that stand out in beds and seasonal plantings. This full sun zinnia variety is valued...

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    Royal Purple annual zinnia for sunny borders zinnia seeds ‘Royal Purple’ are a classic choice for adding rich, violet-purple colour to summer displays. This annual variety is valued for its upright habit and strong presence...

  • Giants Of California Mixed seeds (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix Giants Of California Mixed (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    €3,56€4,45

    Giant mixed blooms for sunny borders zinnia giants of california seeds are a classic choice for gardeners who want bold, showy colour in summer displays. This Giants of California mix produces large, fully double zinnia...

  • Thumbelina Dwarf Mixed seeds (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix Thumbelina Dwarf Mixed (Zinnia elegans) – annual mix seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    €3,56€4,45

    Compact annual zinnias for sunny containers zinnia thumbelina seeds are a dwarf, mixed selection of Zinnia elegans grown for neat, compact plants and abundant color in a small space. This pastel zinnia mix brings a...

  • €4,45

    Mixed colour zinnias for sunny garden displays zinnia lilliput seeds are a classic choice for bright, compact summer colour in borders and beds. This dwarf zinnia variety produces a lively mix of shades, bringing a...

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    Soft pink annual zinnia for sunny borders zinnia lilliput rose gem seeds produce a compact, floriferous annual with soft pink zinnia flowers that bring long-lasting color to beds, borders, and mixed containers. This classic lilliput...

  • Dahlia Flowered Mix seeds (Zinnia elegans) – organic annual flower Dahlia Flowered Mix (Zinnia elegans) – organic annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    €3,96€4,95

    Organic annual mix with dahlia style blooms zinnia dahlia flowered seeds bring bold, fully double flowers to summer beds and borders, with blooms that resemble dahlia forms in a lively mix of colors. This organic...

  • €4,45

    Colourful dwarf zinnias for sunny beds zinnia lilliput mixed seeds are a compact, annual flower choice that brings a lively blend of colours to borders, beds, and containers. This lilliput zinnia seed mix is valued...

  • Dahlia Flowered Mix seeds (Zinnia elegans) – annual flower Dahlia Flowered Mix (Zinnia elegans) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    €3,56€4,45

    Dahlia Flowered Annual Mix For Sunny Borders zinnia seeds in this dahlia-flowered annual mix bring bold, double-style blooms that resemble decorative dahlias, creating a striking display through the main summer season. These Zinnia elegans varieties...

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.