Zinnia Planting Guide

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) is a fast-growing, heat-loving annual that produces bold, dahlia-like blooms from early summer until hard frost. One of the easiest flowers to grow from direct-sown seed, zinnias thrive in hot, dry conditions and are magnets for butterflies and beneficial insects. They make excellent companion plants alongside marigolds in the vegetable garden.

Zinnia elegans · Flower · Asteraceae family · 60–70 days to maturity

Annual Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Deer-resistant Good for cutting

Why it matters: If you're just starting a flower garden in your area, Zinnia is a forgiving first pick. It tolerates imperfect soil, mild drought, and the occasional missed watering. The reward: weeks (sometimes months) of continuous color.

Get Your Personalized Zinnia Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Zinnia?

Zone Compatibility for Zinnia Zones 3a – 11b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Bloom
Zone 3a	Apr 17	May 29	May 29	Aug 7 – Oct 2
Zone 3b	Apr 12	May 24	May 24	Aug 2 – Oct 4
Zone 4a	Apr 8	May 20	May 20	Jul 29 – Oct 7
Zone 4b	Apr 3	May 8	May 8	Jul 17 – Oct 2
Zone 5a	Mar 28	May 2	May 2	Jul 11 – Oct 3
Zone 5b	Mar 21	Apr 25	Apr 25	Jul 4 – Oct 3
Zone 6a	Mar 13	Apr 17	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Oct 2
Zone 6b	Mar 6	Apr 3	Apr 3	Jun 12 – Sep 18
Zone 7a	Feb 25	Mar 25	Mar 25	Jun 3 – Sep 23
Zone 7b	Feb 18	Mar 18	Mar 18	May 27 – Sep 30
Zone 8a	Feb 8	Mar 1	Mar 1	May 10 – Sep 27
Zone 8b	Jan 28	Feb 11	Feb 11	Apr 22 – Sep 23
Zone 9a	Jan 13	Jan 20	Jan 20	Mar 31 – Sep 15
Zone 9b	Dec 28	Dec 28	Dec 28	Mar 8 – Sep 6
Zone 10a	Dec 4	Nov 20	Nov 20	Jan 29 – Aug 13
Zone 10b	Dec 4	Nov 13	Nov 13	Jan 22 – Aug 20
Zone 11a	Dec 4	Nov 6	Nov 6	Jan 15 – Aug 27
Zone 11b	Dec 4	Oct 30	Oct 30	Jan 8 – Sep 3

How to Plant Zinnia

0.3"

Planting Depth

12"

Between Plants

18"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Low — drought tolerant

Drought tolerant — water only when soil is dry 2" deep.

🧪 Soil pH

5.5 – 7.5

Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 11b

📅 Days to Maturity

60–70 days

Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.

👪 Plant Family

Asteraceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Asteraceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Zinnia

Zinnia matures in just 60–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.9 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Zinnia

✅ Good Companions

Marigolds Tomatoes Cucumbers Basil Peppers

❌ Keep Away From

Fennel

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Zinnia

Direct-sow after last frost when soil reaches 60°F; seeds germinate in 5-7 days. In zones 3-5 a brief indoor start (4 weeks) is worthwhile but transplant carefully — zinnias dislike root disturbance. Deadhead frequently to extend bloom. Excellent cut flower; harvesting regularly encourages branching. Avoid overhead watering to reduce powdery mildew.

Saving Zinnia Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Reader favourite

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

$27 $157 value

Most saved seeds go bad before next season. This shows exactly when to pick, how to dry, and where to store seeds from 200 plants so yours don't.

200 plants, step-by-step: life cycle, pollination type, isolation
Exact temperature + humidity ranges that keep seeds viable
Bonus: searchable Google Sheets tracker + custom GPT assistant

Save a lifetime of seed money →

Zinnia by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Zinnia?

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) takes 60 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Zinnia grow in?

Zinnia can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Zinnia need?

Growing Zinnia requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Low — drought tolerant, and soil pH of 5.5 to 7.5.