Profusion zinnia

Sun

Full sun; allow at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then when the top 1-2 in (2.5-5 cm) of soil feels dry. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells; containers need more frequent watering.

Soil

Well-drained soil of moderate fertility; avoid waterlogged ground. Use free-draining potting mix in containers.

Height

0.8-1.5 ft (0.25-0.45 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring or early summer until frost, depending on sowing time and climate. Single or double flowers in white, yellow, orange, apricot, pink and red, with some bicoloured selections.

Foliage

Green, pointed leaves carried in opposite pairs on densely branching stems.

Growth

Fast; flowers in its first growing season.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Disease resistant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.1 ft (0.35 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed; harden off indoor-grown seedlings first.
• Space plants about 1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m) apart, following the packet or label for the particular selection.
• Water at soil level rather than wetting the leaves, and let excess water drain freely.
• Mix a little compost into poor soil; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding, which encourages leaves at the expense of flowers.
• Feed container plants with a balanced flowering-plant fertiliser at the label rate.
• Apply a light mulch once the soil is warm, keeping it away from the stems.

Pruning. Routine deadheading is not needed for continued flowering, but you can snip off faded heads just above a leaf pair to tidy the plants. Trim back damaged or straggly shoots during summer; staking is usually unnecessary.

Early spring

Sow indoors about 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost, using individual modules to minimise root disturbance.

Late spring

Harden off seedlings and plant outside after frost danger has passed; alternatively, sow directly into warm soil.

Early summer

Mulch lightly and water regularly until roots are established.

Summer

Check containers frequently for dryness, feed as needed and remove damaged growth.

Early autumn

Continue watering during dry weather to maintain flowering.

Late autumn

Remove plants after frost or when flowering finishes; discard badly diseased material rather than adding it to home compost.

• Plant repeated groups along the front of a sunny border for a low, continuous band of summer colour.
• Use in patio pots and window boxes with trailing verbena or sweet potato vine.
• Combine with salvias and ornamental grasses for contrasting flower shapes and fine-textured foliage.
• Edge vegetable beds or paths with compact plants that provide flowers without much staking or trimming.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance, Hot border, Small-space and Family-friendly.

Plant it with: Salvia, Verbena, French marigold, Angelonia, Fountain grass and Sweet potato vine.

Wildlife: The flowers attract butterflies and other pollinating insects. Single and open-centred forms generally offer easier access to pollen and nectar than densely double forms.

• Powdery mildew: less troublesome than on many common zinnias, but still possible; provide sun and airflow, avoid crowding and remove badly affected leaves.
• Leaf spots: water at soil level, remove affected foliage and clear away infected plants at the end of the season.
• Slugs and snails: protect young seedlings with hand-picking, barriers or an approved iron-phosphate bait used according to its label.
• Root rot and collapse: avoid overwatering and cold, wet planting conditions; improve drainage and discard rotting plants.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is grown as an ornamental, not as a food plant.

• Common zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

  Often has broader leaves, larger flower heads and a taller, more upright habit, though dwarf cultivars can overlap with Profusion in size.

• Narrowleaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)

  Usually has much narrower leaves and smaller, mostly single flowers; Profusion plants generally have fuller flower heads and broader foliage.

Zinnia honours the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, while the series name Profusion refers to its abundant flowers.

Propagation. Grow from purchased seed or young plants. Sow shallowly in warm conditions, about 70-75°F (21-24°C), and avoid disturbing the roots when transplanting. Seed saved from these hybrids may not reproduce the parent's colour, habit or other traits.

Accepted botanical name

Zinnia marylandica

Native range

Belize.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.