Rich in nectar, Zinnias are a fan favorite of bees during their May to October growing season.
They are also attractive to ladybugs, Japanese Beetles, hummingbirds and wasps. Because they are attract Japanese beetles, they can act as a decoy, attracting this destructive pest away from other plants such as beans which are also a favorite of the beetle. In addition to being a decoy, they also attract predatory insects such as ladybugs which eat pests such as aphids, scales, mealy bugs, leafhoppers, mites, and other insects.
With a variety of bright, cheerful colors this annual plant is great in gardens and makes wonderful cut flowers to add to any arrangement. Even though this is a one season plant, the seeds can be collected at the end of the season and planted the following year. You can also keep zinnias continually growing in your garden, by letting them die with the first frost, leaving the flower heads on the stems in the fall. The mature flower will drop and scatter the seeds, creating new flowers in the spring.
Zinnias are considered short-day plants, meaning that, while they require sun, they also require a period of darkness, making them ideal for planting in the early spring when nights are longer
Zinnias are a low maintenance, heat loving plant that are drought tolerant and thrive in full sun. If sown directly into the soil they will germinate in 5 to 7 days and prefer temperatures of over 75 degrees, with the ground temperature being 70 degrees. Plant the seeds or seedlings about 6 inches apart, as they require good airflow, with 12 inches of space between rows. Zinnias can be grown in hardiness zones 3-10.
When watering zinnias, be careful to not let too much water get onto the leaves. This could cause the zinnias to suffer from powdery mildew or other fungal and bacteria spots.
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