Zinnia, Purple Giant

Zinnias are one of the easiest flowers to grow and a great companion plant in the vegetable garden!  These bright purple blooms are huge (some are even double-petaled) and absolutely stunning! 

A FEW reasons we love growing zinnias:
- heat tolerant, loves full sun
- drought tolerant (after established)
- pest + disease resistant
- deer resistant
- low maintenance 
- pollinators love them! 
- great for cut flowers

The Purple Giant Zinnia variety typically reaches 3-4' tall in poor to average soil, but can grow to 6 feet tall if planted in fertile soil.  Because they seem to grow better in basic soil, we love to plant them in full sun, throughout our parking strip. 
Note that our zinnias will produce bushy, beautiful blooms because we pinch them back when they're about 6" tall.  Pinching back the plant encourages side shoots and more growth.  

Zinnias produce from early summer thru the first frost, sometimes as late as November.  *May attract neighbors and random people driving thru your neighborhood*.  

Zinnias love full sun and well draining soil.  Plants may benefit from basic staking - we have found that they're ok without stakes unless its super windy.  They benefit from deadheading, meaning the more you snip spent blooms, the more new blooms will grow. Or, leave the blooms for the bees!  If you leave the blooms until they've dried, you can easily save seed for next year's garden or provide shelter for bees and other insects throughout the winter.  

• Days to Harvest: 75 - 90
• Companion Plants: Cosmos, Marigolds, Peppers, Tomatoes, Zucchini
  
• Open-Pollinated (OP)
• Plant Spacing: 6 - 12"

Photo Credit: Jess Page