Zingy zinnias!

Popular for borders, pots and as cut flowers, zinnias produce vibrant daisy-like flowers. They are also easy to grow and deserve a spot in any garden, says Graham Rice

- Graham Rice

Zinnias are showy flowers that make a real impact on short, long-stemmed or bushy plants and come in a full range of colours, including green

ZINNIAS are nothing if not bright. Tall or short, long-stemmed or bushy, single or double, for borders, for cut flowers, for edging or for containers - these brilliantly coloured summer-flowering daisies come in every colour but blue and bring us vivid, even luminous flowers on plants that are easy to grow.

The flowers vary in shape from simple daisies, dainty stars and anemone-centred to big and blowsy, almost like chrysanthemums. In size they may be like neat buttons or stars, while sometimes they are big and bold.

Half-hardy annuals

Zinnias are all half-hardy annual summer flowers, we sow the seed in spring and they flower all summer. The ‘half hardy part means that they are happy to grow outside, but will not take frost so are raised in protection and then planted out. The alternative is to sow the seeds outside, where you need them to flower, but wait until all risk of frost has passed.

When planting out, zinnias need a careful touch. Never firm the young plants too hard when planting, and never overwater. That is the road to ruin as the stems rot at the base.

Tall varieties are ideal for cutting and for bold groups in a sunny border. They will need support, and canes around the clump or along the row, looped round with twine, works well.

Pick zinnias when they are fully mature and just forming pollen

Using a mix of colours

For edging, low-growing varieties in a mix of colours are ideal, especially in front of plants or groups in single colours or shrubs that flower at a different time of year.