Zinnias On Repeat: 10 Glorious Cut-And-Come-Again Varieties For Endless Summer Bouquets

There’s no happier flower in the cutting garden than the zinnia. In an array of colors, shapes, and sizes, these floral blooms spark smiles at first sight, adding pizzazz to cutting gardens and summer bouquets alike.

Zinnias are also one of the easiest ways to lure pollinators. Butterflies are especially attracted to these blooms, as are moths and bees. You may even spot hummingbirds hovering over them, too!

Growing zinnias will provide a steady supply of fresh flowers for arrangements as they bloom from summer well into fall. And best of all, frequent cutting encourages even more blooms to emerge. Add the fact that zinnias have reliably sturdy stems, and you have one of the best cut-and-come-again flowers to grow in your garden.

The Growing Basics

You can cost-effectively start zinnias from seeds by starting seeds indoors about four to five weeks before your region’s last frost date in spring. Or, direct sow seeds in well-draining garden soil in a sunny space once it’s warm. As they germinate, thin seedlings to ensure adequate air flow between plants.

Zinnias appreciate moderate moisture but allow the soil to dry between waterings. They can be prone to powdery mildew, so direct your hose or watering can at the plants’ base to avoid wetting the foliage and spreading disease. Light feeding with a well-balanced fertilizer every six weeks is just enough to ensure constant blooms without overfeeding.

Harvesting Zinnias for Floral Arrangements

Zinnias must be harvested when they are fully unfurled as they stop opening once cut. Before cutting, hold the stem 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20cm) below the flower and give it a shake. If it wobbles, it’s not ready for harvest. If it’s stiff, follow that stem downward to where it meets a branching point. Cut here at a diagonal to stimulate growth in the emerging branches.

Extending Vase Life

For the longest vase life possible, remove any foliage that sits below the water line to prevent bloom-shortening bacterial growth. Change the water daily and trim stem ends every few days to extend the vase life. Add a commercial floral food to keep zinnias looking fresh for up to a week.

Best Cut-Flower Zinnias to Grow

Zinnia varieties number in the hundreds, so we’ve chosen 10 that are tried and true for your cutting garden. There are a few old classics, some fun bicolors, and a variety that’s best for the little hands around the house.

1. Queeny Lime Red

This variety’s fully double blooms look “antiqued” thanks to its petals transitioning from deep burgundy in the outer rings to soft lime in the center. If your aesthetic is vintage, then ‘Queeny Lime Red’ will give you muted tones to add to your floral arrangements. Flowers are up to 3.5 inches (9cm) wide, and the plant grows to 40 inches (1m) tall. ‘Queeny Lime Red’ is a standout in our Zinnias for Cutting Seed Collection, available in the Shop.

2. Benary’s Giant Mix

One of the most popular zinnia mixes out there, ‘Benary’s Giant Mix’ produces incredibly large (4 to 6 inch/10 to 15cm diameter) blooms in bright, basic colors such as white, oranges, yellows, purples, and reds. Growing up to 4 feet (120cm), the ‘Giants’ were bred for beauty and disease tolerance. Their long, thick stems are perfect for keeping those big blooms from nodding in a vase.

3. Zinderella Purple

While it may look like a pincushion or scabiosa flower, the mesmerizing fuchsia-lilac ‘Zinderella Purple’ is all zinnia! Its softly ruffled blooms keep you guessing because they vary from semi to fully double, depending on the difference between day and night temperatures. Flowers are 2.5 inches (6cm) wide atop a plant as tall as 30 inches (76cm). Find ‘Zinderella Purple’ in our Zinnias for Cutting Seed Collection.

4. Cut and Come Again

A highly prolific bloomer, 'Cut and Come Again' – or Zinnia pumila – produces flowers at a rapid rate all season long. It’s one of the classic cut-flower zinnias, and one that offers vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, and pink.

The 3.5-foot-tall (1m) plants produce blooms that are 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5cm) across and appear as singles, doubles, and semi-doubles.

5. Crouching Tiger

There is so much beauty in this red-and-yellow double-flowered bicolor! The 3-inch (7.5cm) flowers have petals that are deep red at the base and tipped in yellow. Younger flowers are fully bicolor, but as the blooms plump to their fully double status, only bits of red are visible among the yellow tips. You’ll have a mix of single to semi to fully double blooms at any given moment on the same 2-foot-tall (60cm) plant.

Winner of the 2015 Fleuroselect Novelty Award, Europe’s highest honor for flowers from seed, ‘Crouching Tiger’ is one of the varieties featured in our Zinnias for Cutting Seed Collection.

6. Hidden Dragon

Everything that was said about ‘Crouching Tiger’ can be said for ‘Hidden Dragon’ – except for the color, that is. ‘Hidden Dragon’ sports deep red petals at their base, as ‘Crouching Tiger’ does, but its tips are white. Combine the two varieties, and you have a stunning floral composition. It's also included in our Zinnias for Cutting Seed Collection.

7. State Fair Mix

The ‘State Fair’ zinnias are some of the largest zinnias out there, with flowers up to 6 inches (15cm) in diameter. The mix offers a range of happy colors – orange, red, pink, purple, yellow, and white.

These zinnias thrive in hot weather, making them an excellent choice for summer cut flower bouquets. And at up to 48 inches (1.2m) tall, they offer plenty of lengthy stems well-suited for vases.

8. Purple Prince

This variety’s rose-purple coloration is a vital grounding element in ethereal cut-flower bouquets. ‘Purple Prince’ is known for its semi- to double-flowered massive blooms, sturdy stems, and long vase life – characteristics that make it an outstanding element for floral arrangements. This is one of five varieties within our Zinnias for Cutting Seed Collection.

9. Whirligig Hybrid Zinnia

Looking for something special? Each ‘Whirligig’ bloom presents itself a little bit differently – some single, some daisy-like, and some fully double. Colors vary from flower to flower, too, many with contrasting petal tips and some solidly monochrome.

Flowers are medium-sized at 3 to 4 inches (8 to 10cm) across on plants less than 2 feet (60cm) tall. For a "surprise in every bloom", pick up Whirligig zinnia seeds in the Shop.

10. Profusion AAS Mix

Not all cut flowers need to be tall and lanky. Profusion zinnias are outstanding garden plants, beautiful in beds but not a first thought for bouquets. However, with cheery 2-inch-wide (5cm) flowers and short stems, these are ideal for child-sized posies.

The ‘Profusion AAS Mix’ is a combination of four colors that won the coveted All-America Selections award for outstanding garden performance. Your kids will love the blooms! Find this award-winning zinnia mix in the Shop.

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