Well, no, I think of zinnias as coming up well (from seed), growing fast, into bloom before you know it.

However, I'm a couple zones farther south and consequently warmer. It is a plant that is native to the tropical zones of Mexico and Central America. I assume your lack is due to heat.

I assume your lack is due to heat.

Don't think so. Zinnias are a staple up 'here' as an annual.

I think it is just me :(.

(I think I will switch to a nice bright yellow marigold next year for a change)

Hee, well I can testify there are some plants that just don't seem to grow well for a particular person, while some brown thumbed yokel down the street can grow them with his hands tied behind his back.

Frustrating, isn't it ? :)

I can't grow Sweet Alyssum to save my life...try Cosmos from seed.

My Zinnias self-seed...kinda crazy...Cosmos in the middle Zinnias all around...there is a bird bath in there somewhere.

Hi rouge21,

"Each year in a small bed (which gets about 5 hours of afternoon sun) we plant on the border an alternating arrangement of a yellow zinnia followed by ... "

The problem is not you, it is that 5 hours of sun limitation. Zinnias need full sun, and that is at least 8 hours of full sun per day. Buy a chainsaw and whack down some trees. (grin)

ZM

and in my z5 MI ... spring was 4 to 6 weeks late this spring ...

meaning the soil didnt heat early.. meaning germination was delayed .. etc ...

first time in 35 years.. that i doubt my 4 oclocks will make it to bloom ... and i might have to rebuy seed for the first time in that period ...

of course.. the very cold spring.. was followed by intermittent drought ... and we are now finishing up with blistering heat ...

many of my self reseeding annuals are simply.. all screwed up ...

no one in their right mind sill argue with zen about this plant ... i agree on the hours of sun ....

but on the other hand.. you nearly perfectly explain their growth cycle ... in my z5 MI ... they are not much to look at... until late july/aug .... you said this:

---
What I find (and this has been the case over successive years) is that these zinnias languish for so long, barely holding their own throughout May and June and even into July. And it isn't until mid to late July that I see a reversal of fortune for these zzs and they begin to flourish.
---

and that is why.. i have never gone all zen on them ... lol ... just figuring.. they are a borderline cold z5 plant... in my garden.. anyway ... [see what i did there.. lol]

ken

I have to agree with Zen, of course, and Ken. Spring was all screwed up and my zinnia's didn't look good until mid July. I had even started them indoors.

Ken, I have lots of pink and red 4 o'clocks and I can collect seed for you if you want.

SCG

This year I grew zinnia and many other plants for the first time. They looked pretty perfect until a few weeks ago when they started to get powdery mildew. They are also around 6 to 7 feet tall and not 3 feet as said on the package.

LKZZ: I love your cosmos and zinnias.

SouthCountryGuy: Any chance I could recieve some 4 o'clock seeds from you as well? I have a trade list.

Southerngardening24, sure send me a pm or email.

SCG

UPDATE:

For a change from every year using zinnias and geraniums I put in all (annual) salvias (PW: Ablazin' Tabasco). They have performed superbly i.e. developed quickly with lots of flowers and no dead heading.

Rouge, those are lovely and energetic. I think that's the same kind of annual salvia I grew a few years ago and I got some reseeding from them the following year. They did take until July to bloom, though.

I never use yellow zinnias, for yellow marigolds are a better choice. They aren't prone to fungal problems like zinnias can be., and they tend to be bushier plants. The advantage of zinnias is the wide color range. The only down side to marigolds for me is the limited color choices. When I want yellow or orange I use marigolds or calendula. For the purples, pinks and true reds, zinnias.

I'm going to suggest two carefree zinnia series....both bloom their heads off all summer long, are insect (and mite) and disease resistant, no dead heading required. I grow several flats of them every year and they always begin to bloom while still in the cell packs.

The first zinnies are the colorful Profusion varieties. They're compact, not fancy, but are fabulous workhorses in my hot Alabama climate, even in clay soil, and no irrigation.

My other favorite series is the Crystal series , little Zinnia linearis. These are also non stop bloomers. I like to use Crystal white along the edges of my gardens, sort of like a pretty petticoat in the flower bed.

I'm mentioning these two groups of zinnias in particular because they are incredibly easy to grow. I am NOT careful about amending the soil, but plant my seed grown plants directly into the native red clay as soon I'm confident that I've seen the last frost for the season. Full sun, all day long.

Great info 'rhizo'. I will consider this for next season.