Common Names
Peruvian Zinnia, Peruviana Zinnia

Botanical Name
Zinnia peruviana

Plant Family
Asteraceae (Daisy Family)

Native Range
South America

Life Cycle
Annual

Hardiness Zone
2-11

Habit
Slender branching plants, 3ft tall and 1.5ft wide. Flowers are about 2” across and a lovely muted antique red colour. Long lasting blooms continue through fall.

Sun/Soil
Full sun, well-drained soil.

Germination/Sowing
Seeds germinate easily and can be direct sown in fall or spring, or started in flats in the spring and then transplanted out. 

Growing/Care
Remove (deadhead) old flowers to encourage new blooms. Plants thrive in hot conditions and it will take the heat of summer to really get these growing, once they start blooming they will keep blooming continuously until frost.

Harvesting
Flowers are harvested as they open.

Culinary Uses
The flowers are edible. The petals can be stripped off and used for garnish or decorating dishes or in salads.

Medicinal Uses
Zinnias have been shown to have antioxidant properties, as well as anti-fungal and hepatoprotective properties.

Other Uses

The flowers have many traditional ritual uses throughout Mexico and southwestern US where they were considered a sacred medicine. It is said that the Pueblo people fed the blossoms to children, believing that the plant made the children eloquent and intelligent.

Zinnias are an excellent cut flower lasting up to two weeks in a vase.

The flowers produce yellow and beige dyes.

Themes
Low Maintenance, Drought tolerant, Attracts Pollinators, Container Garden, Cut Flowers, Apothecary Garden, Sacred Plant.