12 REASONS I AM GROWING ZINNIAS. More than ever!

Why I am growing Zinnias this year? Such an easy flower to grow from seed, many colors to select from, they fill your yard with months of flowers, very easy maintenance and pollinators absolutely love them. Let’s take a look at all 12 reasons to add Zinnias to your garden!

I need to share the big change taking place right now in the garden flowers; the zinnias I am excited to grow this year and the change I had to make!

growing zinnias
My best friend in the Garden!

Links in this article are affiliate links and if you click on them, we will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! Clicking and purchasing help to support this blog and all of the home and garden post we bring to you! Click here for full disclosure

BACK STORY AS TO WHY I AM GROWING MORE ZINNIAS?

Everything is changing and color is beginning to show! The grow room is open and seedlings are on the way. But I have to tell you a little back story!

News

This is a painful one to tell you about, but I am finally accepting it and am ready to share the bad news. Last year I was not doing very well, actually, I was doing terribly. I did not have the will to go dig out my dahlias and put them away. Some years I leave them on the ground since it usually does not get that cold here, but I wanted to relocate them and mix them with other flowers this year.

growing zinnias in containers
The flower arrangement is showing the zinnias in the center, on the perimeter are dahlias. Left Bernary’s White, Middle is Queen Red Lime and front and back are Little Flower Girl Mix.

Dahlias in December

Fast forward to December, we had the coldest winter, with ice, snow, and none-stop rain! I decided to dig out the dahlia tubers in the front yard and the ones around the pond. I was surprised when I dug them out, the tubers looked so large, abnormally large! It looked as though the constant rain damaged my dahlias. I stored them and when going through the tubers in February, it was official, a lot of them had rotted.

You can see below the dahlia tubers after I sorted and before I stored them for the winter.

dahlia tubets

Above you can see the tubers when I first dug them out and were ready for storage. I have been able to save some of the dahlias, so far! Hoping that the ones I did not dig out, also survived. So scared to look! So I made a plan. Sometimes God has other plans and instead of ordering more dahlias, I decided that I want to try and explore different zinnias.

Do you want to learn more about growing dahlias? Check out my post ‘HELP! MY DAHLIAS ARE NOT BLOOMING! / MY FAVORITES!’

WHY I AM GROWING ZINNIAS?

As you will be able to see from the photos, bees love zinnias, which will really help with pollinating my vegetable plants. I am growing more zinnias for two main reasons: this year I am growing more food and I really want to have more monarch butterflies in my garden.

I have a few other vines and flowers I am also adding, but the zinnias are it for pollinators and I can’t wait! But let me share with you the 12 reasons you should grow zinnias in your garden.

Why You Should Grow Zinnias?

  1. Beautiful colors.
  2. Easy Maintenance with little fertilizing requirements.
  3. POLLINATORS LOVE THEM!
  4. Take full Sun not a lot of water.
  5. Flowers change colors as they mature.
  6. Flowers look gorgeous on flower arrangements.
  7. Zinnias will bloom a long period in zone 8b, if deadhead.
  8. Easy to collect seeds for saving.
  9. Not invasive.
  10. Great for cutting and using in flower arranging.
  11. Grow well in containers.
  12. Large Variety of Zinnias available.
red zinnias

For me, the main reason I grow Zinnias, is because they are one the best pollinator friendly flowers; Butterflies, bees and hummingbirds love them.

WHAT ZINNIAS AM I GROWING THIS YEAR?

I am beyond excited to add more Zinnias to my collection this year! Below are some I grew last year and new Zinnias I will be growing this year:

  • Queen Red Lime
  • Zinderella Peach
  • Little Flower Girl Mix
  • Bernary’s Giant White
  • Polar White
  • Pink Senorita
  • Illumination
  • El Dorado
pink-zinnias
Little Flower Girl Mix Zinnias.

DO ZINNIAS RESEED THEMSELVES?

Zinnias are annuals, the original plant dies after producing flowers, but the fact that in some zones it can reseed itself is definitely a benefit.

The size of the seeds makes it so easy and you can save a large amount of seeds every year. I prefer to collect the seeds, mainly because my garden is small and I like to design the flowers beds different every year. But in my zone, the chances of a zinnia getting through our winters is not good.

So start your seeds! You are in time to enjoy the more beautiful abundance of flowers and the wildlife that will be making an appearance in your garden.

You don’t know how to get started growing your zinnias indoors? No problem, check out my post ‘BEST SEED STARTING STATION DIY | SEED STARTING.’

SHOP BELOW FOR WHAT YOU NEED TO GROW THE BEAUTIFUL ZINNIAS INDOORS.

How to harvest calendula seeds
growing zinnias from seed indoors
Zinderella Peach Zinnia

YOU MUST INCLUDE THESE BEAUTIES!

I don’t think I have found an easier flower to grow from seed and maintain. The absolute beauties available on the market make zinnias an amazing flower to collect. Even though they are annuals, they are so easy to grow that I do not mind starting them every year and I look forward to adding new ones.

If you want more flowers in your garden, another gorgeous and easy flower to grow is Sweet Peas! Check out my blog post ‘GROWING SWEET PEAS FROM SEED | MUST KNOW TIPS!

Each year I grow too many and share them with my friends! Such a great gift! Enjoy every moment, from seed to flower arrangements, and say hello to the pollinators for me!

Your Cocoon Awaits You,

Stay Creative!

IF YOU LIKE THE POST, PLEASE PIN BELOW!

growing zinnias

DON’T LEAVE YET!

COME VISIT FOR MORE ON GARDENING IDEAS!

Must-Have Shade Garden Plants

How to Design a Cutting Garden?

How To Start A Cutting Garden This Year

Zinnia Bush From Seeds

The Basics of Hydrangea Care

JOIN ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Instagram @cocoonraw

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/cocoonraw/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cocoonrawdesign

TikTok cocoon_raw

You Tube Cocoon Raw

logo signature

You might also love

16 Comments

    1. You are about to fall in love hard! They are such a beautiful flowers in the garden.

  1. Just look at those amazing Zinnia names, how adorable! Loved this post, Melba.

  2. You always have the best gardening tips!! Thank you for sharing the info – particularly the VARIETIES of Zinnias. Happy gardening my friend.

    1. You are so kind Anna! Thank you for the kind words and I hope you have a garden full of beautiful zinnias soon!!!!

  3. Thank you for sharing! I have never grown zinnias, but have always wanted to. Your post has inspired me to give it a try this season. Happy Spring, my friend!

    1. I am so excited for you! You will truly enjoy them and they are so easy that it will surprise you. Thank you for enjoying the post and your kind words sweet Lynne!

    1. Elizabeth, you are so kind! I can’t wait to see it myself after 8 months of crazy weather. Dreaming of flowers!

Comments are closed.