Profusion Orange zinnias (Photo by Allen Owings, LSU AgCenter)

Some of the newer zinnias include the Profusion and the Zahara varieties. These landscape-type zinnias resulted from hybridization between the old cut-flower-type zinnias and the Mexican or narrowleaf zinnias.

Flowers and foliage are smaller than the old cut-flower-type zinnias but are larger than the narrowleaf zinnias. Plants reach heights of 14-18 inches and will bloom from planting date until first killing frost. You can plant zinnias throughout the summer in Louisiana.

Profusion zinnias are available in many colors, including orange, white, yellow, cherry, coral pink, apricot, deep apricot and fire in both single and double flower forms. You can buy Profusion zinnias as a three-, five- or seven-color mix or in a mix called Sunrise. The Profusion Orange, Profusion Cherry and Profusion White varieties are all All-America Selections winners.

The Zahara series flower colors include fire, cherry, red, yellow, white, coral rose, starlight rose, raspberry and scarlet. They also come in a formula mix of all these colors, a Bonfire mix of bright colors and a Raspberry Lemonade blend. Zahara zinnias also come with single or double flowers.

A mid-to-late-summer planting works just as well as spring planting and leads to a great flower display in September and October. Zinnias flower abundantly in fall.

Plant zinnias in full sun. Most zinnias prefer to have old flowers removed to encourage continual bloom, but Profusion and Zahara zinnias stay in flower much better and longer than other varieties. Deadheading is not needed.

Allen Owings
Rick Bogren