Zinnias are a democratic linchpin of the one-year efflorescence garden , grown from germ to sate the flowerbeds with vibrant color . flower sit atop marvellous stalks arrant for cutting , or midget plants are suited togrowing in containers .

Though they ’ll do well in gardens across a huge swath of the US ( and the globe ! ) , blossom in the summertime in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 10 and beyond .

Some character of zinnias do better than others in dry heat , as they are tolerant of drought , while others can stand firm the cool damp at the start or end of the growing season in certain regions .

Shades of red, orange, and pink flowering Radiant Zinnias growing in the garden.

And disease resistance is an added characteristic of some types .

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There are so many gorgeous varieties to select from , with young single being introduce to the market each class .

Shades of red, yellow, orange, and pink flowering Radiant Zinnias growing in the garden.

If you ’re look for the good of the right but you ’re not certain which to pick , peruse this carefully curated roundup of 15 of our favourite zinnia cultivars to grow in the menage garden .

15 of the Best Zinnia Varieties

1 . Big Red

2 . Cactus Flowered Mix

3 . California Giant Mix

A close up vertical image of brightly colored zinnia flowers pictured on a soft focus background. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

4 . Color Crackle

5 . Crystal White

6 . Dahlia Flowered Mix

A close up square image of bright red ‘Big Red’ zinnia 
flowers growing in the garden.

7 . Double Zahara Yellow

8 . enviousness

9 . Peppermint Stick

A close up square image of different colored cactus flowered zinnias growing in the garden with foliage in soft focus in the background.

10 . Profusion Cherry

11 . Queeny Lime Orange

12 . State Fair Mix

A close up square image of a single bloom of a ‘Haagena Color Crackle’ zinnia flower.

13 . Swizzle Ivory and Cherry

14 . Zinderella Lilac

15 . Zowie Yellow Flame

A close up square image of of different colored dahlia flowered zinnias growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background.

They might not savor like cinnamon ( though they are in fact edible ) , but ‘ boastful Red ’ blossom extend a visual experience that I ’d argue is akin to that burst of spicy feeling that I remember from the chewing gum of the same name .

As advertised , thisZinnia eleganscultivar is sleep together for its big , six - column inch crimson prime . These bloom of youth quickly , in just 35 days after germination under ideal conditions . And for tally involvement , the flower wither to deeply Orange River with time .

‘ Big Red ’

A close up square image of bright yellow ‘Double Zahara’ flowers growing in the garden.

Tall 36 - inch stems bear out the blossoms , and plants have a spread of 10 to 12 inch . This Dahlia pinnata - blossom case is packed with layer of petals .

Seeds areavailable from Burpee .

Narrow , quill - similar , and slightly curved petals are a standout feature article of the “ cactus flower ” type of old maid flower , and this mixfrom Burpeedoes not disappoint .

A close up horizontal image of green ‘Envy’ Z. elegans flowers growing in the garden pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

With bloom in various shades of reddish , pinkish , yellow , orange , and white , thisZ. eleganscultivar reaches heights of 30 inch with a spread of 12 to 18 inches . have a bun in the oven the flower to continue to put on a show for about 10 week .

Cactus Flowered Mix

First introduced to the market back in the 1920s , this variety remain popular to this day both in the garden and as a cutting flower .

A close up vertical image of a seed packet of Z. elegans ‘Envy’ with text to the left of the frame and an illustration to the right.

come areavailable online from Burpee .

‘ California Giant ’ is a standout , and I would be remiss to fail to include it here . devotee ofsunflowersand large arrangement may go for this one , which can pass on tiptop of four feet , producing a riot of flowers five to six in across in tone of pink , yellow , scarlet , and orangish .

Perfect for the backs of beds or children ’s garden , thisZ. eleganscultivar claim a little longer to mature than other types , bloom in 75 to 90 days , but it ’s deserving the hold .

A close up horizontal image of a white and pink bicolored ‘Peppermint Stick’ zinnia flower growing in the garden.

‘ California Giant ’ mixture

First bring to marketplace by Bodger Seeds in the 1920s , you may happen germ to grow in your own gardenfrom True Leaf Market .

These Bourgogne and white bicolors are so unique . ‘ Color Crackle ’ is aZ. haageanacultivar , aka Mexican zinnia , with bold one to two - in double blooms .

A close up vertical image of a seed packet of Z. elegans ‘Peppermint Stick’ with text to the left of the frame and an illustration to the right.

prow reach a moderate tiptop of 16 to 24 inches , and plants spread 12 to 14 inches .

‘ Color Crackle ’

immune to mold as well as drouth , this type can do well in a variety of locations and grow conditions .

A close up horizontal image of a bright orange ‘Queeny Lime Orange’ zinnia flower pictured in bright sunshine with foliage in soft focus in the background.

Keep thing simple with nice unmarried flowers that are attractive to pollinators as well as human visitant to the garden .

‘ White ’ is my favourite selection from the Crystal series , a daisy - like heyday with white petal and a yellow center , but you may also enjoy the orange and yellow - petaled choice .

Crystal ‘ White ’

A close up vertical image of a seed packet of Z. elegans ‘Queeny Lime Orange’ with text to the left of the frame and an illustration to the right.

TheseZ. angustifoliaplants get hold of just eight to 10 inches in height with a nine to 12 - column inch spread , so they ’re excellent for growing in container .

Not only is this form tolerant of pests and severe summertime weather condition , it also have got its own against powdery mildew and other common disease that may affect other varieties .

gardener even care to mature this type in pots indoors , to convey some much - needed color deep down !

A close up square image of a swath of ‘State Fair’ zinnia flowers growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine.

Seeds areavailable from reliable Leaf Market .

If you ’re a fan of dahlias but you ’re hesitating to commit to position in the oeuvre required to preserve their health through the winter each twelvemonth , this may be the perfect zinnia for you .

This heirloom type , a variety ofZ. elegansdeveloped in 1919 , produce blooms packed with flower petal that curve downwards slenderly around the perimeter , on tenacious 40 - inch stems . And the flowers themselves are imposingly expectant , about four to five inch in diam .

A close up square image of pink ‘Zinderella’ flowers pictured on a soft focus background.

Dahlia Flowered Mix

Seeds in a mix of colors include jaundiced , white , red , orangish , and pink areavailable from Eden Brothers in a variety of software program sizes .

sports fan of cheery blossoms will love ‘ Double Zahara Yellow . ’ Large double , globe - type blossoms in bright yellow are about two and a half column inch across , and grow on stems about 16 to 20 inch in height , with a similar spread .

A close up horizontal image of a large swath of different colored zinnias growing in the garden.

‘ Double Zahara Yellow ’

A hybrid cross ofZ. elegansandZ. angustifoliaalso know asZ. marylandica , this disease resistant cultivar tolerates drouth , and make a lovely baseball swing prime as well .

The Zahara serial also offers cultivars in red , rose , orange , and blanched , as well as a pretty Salmon River color that’savailable from Burpee as well .

Thoughgreen flowers are n’t for everyone , those who covet them will be charmed to find ‘ Envy , ’ an heirloom form ofZ. eleganswith smart green petals on bloom about three to four inches across , and yellow centers .

Plants reach heights of 30 to 40 in , with a spread of about a foot .

‘ Envy ’

Seeds areavailable from Botanical Interests .

fan of stripes and patch will love ‘ Peppermint Stick , ’ a colorful mix featuring flowers streaked with red and white as well as jazz band of pinkish , scarlet , crimson , orange , and yellow in various shades as well .

No two bloom are precisely alike , adding a horse sense of whimsy to garden beds and arrangement . This cultivar ofZ. elegansreaches 24 to 36 inches tall , and blooms are two to four in across .

‘ Peppermint Stick ’

Find seedsat Botanical Interests .

An All - America Selections golden medalist in the flush category in 1999 , and a Fleuroselect Gold Medal and Novelty Award victor in the same year , ‘ cerise ’ is aZ. elegansxangustifoliahybrid that offers sweet restraint , and vibrant color .

Cherry violent exclusive blooms with yellow centers are about two and a half in across , and grow on 12 to 18 - inch stems . Plants spread 12 to 18 inches all-embracing .

Profusion ‘ Cherry ’

From the Profusion series , ‘ Cherry ’ sustain society with a large selection of other cultivar for you to choose from if a different color or bloom type is more your jam .

Pick from ‘ Coral Pink , ’ ‘ Deep Apricot , ’ ‘ Fire , ’ ‘ Orange , ’ ‘ White , ’ ‘ Yellow , ’ ‘ Double Hot Cherry , ’ ‘ Double Fire , ’ ‘ Double Au , ’ ‘ Double Salmon Deep , ’ Double White , ’ ‘ Double Yellow , ’ or a mixing .

A newerZ. elegansvariety , All - America Selections winner in 2018 , and a Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner , ‘ Queeny Lime Orange ’ was a must - grow from the moment it came onto the market .

With unique tricolour flowers that raise to be the large and most and vivacious in full Dominicus weather , you will adore the big and extraordinarily colourful blossoms in wraith that can only be described as “ rainbow sherbert - esque . ”

‘ Queeny Lime Orange ’

Tall plants can progress to 30 to 40 in in height , making this an excellent cut blossom , and the coral , blab out , and Citrus aurantifolia flowers arise to be about three inch across .

Whether or not you actually choose to go to the state fair this summer is up to you , but you may bring the festivities home with the ‘ State Fair ’ mixture , a bacchanal of color in bold shades of orangish , yellow , gold , pink wine , rust fungus , lavender , and purpleness .

Fully doubleZ. elegansflowers arise to an telling five to six inches across , on farseeing 30 to 36 - inch stems . Under ideal shape , these plant can sometimes turn over sky - eminent pinnacle of 48 inches , so plan consequently !

‘ State Fair ’ Mix

Plants have a spread of 12 to 18 inches , and you may expect bloom within 60 to 80 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. after germination .

This tetraploid mix   is known for its tall stature as well as its disease resistor , and it can agree its own against powdery mold and Alternaria .

Seeds areavailable from Eden Brothers .

Fans of cherry vanilla Methedrine pick and Fourth of July fireworks might enjoy the starburst gist of ‘ Ivory and Cherry , ’ an telling dwarfZ. elegansvariety from the Swizzle series with expectant , four - inch , semi - double bloom .

plant gain just ten to 12 in tall , with a six to eight - inch spread . Give this one a endeavour in a container on the deck or patio !

breed at Kansas State University to thrive in a prairie climate while putting on a beautiful show of flowers throughout the season , it ’s great for locations that often experience drouth and hot weather condition in the summer . And it ’s also uncommitted in a scarlet and yellow jazz band .

Swizzle ‘ Ivory and Cherry ’

Note that this eccentric is best for growers in Zones 6 to 11 , and it is susceptible to powdery mildew . gardener with nerveless and wet summer should probably give a dissimilar smorgasbord a effort .

Find seedsat True Leaf Market .

14. Zinderella Lilac

If downy , pompom style flowers are your thing , you ’ll bang ‘ Zinderella Lilac , ’ a pastel pink and royal fully double and semi - double crested cultivar ofZ. scabiosa .

A achiever of the Fleuroselect Novelty honour , plants attain a height of 25 to 30 inches with a spread of 18 to 20 inches , and produce flowers that are two to two and a half inches across .

Zinderella ‘ Lilac ’

sour centers add to their visual intrigue in cut arrangement as well as in the garden , and plants will continue to put on a show of blossom for about 12 calendar week , from June to September .

Zinderellas are a new variety that ’s speedily gaining popularity , and ‘ Lilac ’ seed areavailable from Burpee .

Not keen on pale purple?Burpee ’s got you coveredwith a unlike option , ‘ Zinderella Peach . ’

Reminiscent of the popular summer bloomergaillardia , Zowie ! ‘ Yellow Flame ’ is a true attending - getter .

Semi - double blooms are scarlet at the base of the petal and orange at the wind , for an impressive bull’s - eye effect .

And as if that was n’t enough to insure thisZ. eleganscultivar ’s placement as a spectacular option for the garden , the efflorescence also commute color as they age .

Zowie ‘ Yellow Flame ’

An All - America Selections winner in 2006 , plants maturate 24 to 29 inches in height with a counterpane of 18 to 24 inches , and they ’re perfect for mature in locations with red-hot summer and wry conditions .

Fill Your Summertime Garden with Annual Color

Easy enough for kids to originate , with enough assortment out there to last a lifetime , it ’s sluttish to fall down in love with zinnias .

I look forward to adding a few to my garden plan each year , picking out the seeds , and experiment with new colors and blossom types ( as well as quondam standbys ! ) to add together people of colour and interest , and appeal pollinators to my garden spaces as well .

And to learn more about spring up zinnias in the garden , study these articles next :

© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more item . to begin with published May 3rd , 2021 . Last update : May 8th , 2025 . Product picture via Botanical Interests , Burpee , Eden Brothers , and True Leaf Market . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

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Allison Sidhu