GZ4, "I didn't know that I could get bigger and bigger zinnias just by saving the seeds of my bigger flowers. How does that work?" Zinnia flower size, shape, and form is determined by a number of different genes. Zinnias are primarily insect pollinated, and pollen gathering insects travel from flower to flower gathering pollen. In that process they accidentally pollinate many zinnia stigmas. Since they gather pollen from many different zinnias, sometimes they self pollinate a zinnia and sometimes they cross pollinate the zinnia with pollen from zinnia blooms that they just came from. As a result, open pollinated zinnia seeds actually contain some hybrids as well as some selfs. And some of those hybrids may involve zinnias that themselves are already hybrids by the same random pollen exchanges. Many times those bee pollinated hybrids are between similar parents. Similar, but different. So a packet of red dahlia flowered seeds will produce a variety of red dahlia flowered zinnias. So called pure varieties or strains are not actually pure. If you look closely you will see small or not-so-small differences between the individual plants and flowers. Your seed packet may have given you dozens of different varieties of red dahlia flowered zinnias, some of which are actually crosses between two different red dahlia flowered zinnias. By saving seeds only from the larger zinnias, you are choosing to grow only seeds from the larger red flowered varieties and discarding the smaller red dahlia flowered varieties. Seed saved from larger specimens will also vary in size (and other characteristics), but their average size will be somewhat larger and you may find still larger specimens. Each time a new seed is formed, a re-shuffling of genes occurs, and you may get a different combination from any that you have ever seen before, and some of those "shuffles" may give you your biggest zinnia yet. "I love the look of GIANT dahlia flowers--where should I start and what should I do to breed those?" Start with some commercial dahlia flowered zinnias that appeal to you. When they bloom out, study them to see which ones are your favorites. I usually cull out zinnias that I don't like to make more room for those that I do like. Then, recognizing that the specimens that you have selected may actually be hybrids between similar but different parents, you are free to self them with the expectation that their progeny will continue to vary, but will have changed some in the direction that you want them to go. Or you may to choose to cross-pollinate some of your favorites to "shake them up" some. Each seed you save will be a different recombination from the genes of its two parents. Remember, zinnias are composites, so each petal is actually a different "flower", with genes that are at least a little different from the petals next to it. "I was told that it's pointless to save the seeds of hybrids, but if their flowers are big and they are only crossed with other dahlia types, it sounds like maybe I should. " You should. Don't tell rose breeders not to save seeds from hybrids. Rose breeders cross hybrids with hybrids with hybrids, and then cross them again so that very complex ancestries build up. No reason you shouldn't do the same with zinnias. And if some non-dahlia flowered zinnia has a trait that you would like in your dahlia flowered, then by all means cross it in and then select out the combination of traits that you are going for. Prehistoric zinnias had all kinds of different forms that we haven't seen yet. By recombinations of recombinations, we can bring combinations of those unseen traits to the forefront. I personally am not a fan of the dahlia flowered zinnia flowerform. It tends to hide interesting bicolor and tricolored petals because the petals are stacked so close together. This dahlia flowered bloom partially conceals an interesting two-tone color scheme. This zinnia bloom does not conceal its petals with thickly overlapping petals. I refer to this zinnia flowerform as "Aster flowered". Various insects, such as aphids, leafhoppers, thrips and such, can "hide" in those closely packed zinnia flowerforms. So my personal preference is for "open" zinnia flowerforms. But that is just my subjective preference, and you are free to have your own. By saving seeds from your favorites, your personal seedstock will come to resemble your preferences. "I guess the other thing I could do is just grow giant dinner plate dahlias instead of trying to coax zinnias into a larger size. :-) Haven't explored that option yet." Maybe you should. Breeding your own dahlias is definitely something that you can do. I prefer zinnias because they grow faster, and you don't have to wait so long to see the results of your crosses or personal selections. ZM

Wow, gorgeous! Nicely done :) I love the two-toned petals. I have some Solar Eclipse F1 that are supposed to have two-toned petals. I also have some Taiyo which are supposed to be a more classic yellow with brown centers. If I get any volunteers, I guess I could end up with something interesting next year. I put mine in the ground a little late, but they're nowhere near that one. I am now able to see where the flowers are going to appear, just tiny centers right now, but at least they're on their way. Don't you have some other varieties as well? I seem to remember some in the some other pictures you've posted.

And so do I! I planted sunflowers for the first time this past spring. I just bought seed packets everywhere I saw them , so had sunflowers from 12" to 12', lemon, orange, red, and even a couple of black ones! They made the side yard look so bright and cheerful, I'm going to do it again in 2015! I just need to find a way to keep the seedheads on the stalks till the birds have had their fill - I ended up cutting some and putting just the heads on a privet hedge next to my driveway. The cardinals went crazy for them - I LOVE SUNFLOWERS!!!

Thanks amberroses for the prayers. I did have a good reason to plant red rather than orange. One thing I was concerned about was the possibility of an overload of orange along my highway. I gave seeds to a BUNCH of passing motorists last summer (and fall & this winter.) Who knows where they all live. I did have an even more compelling reason too, but for the life of me can't recall what that was at the moment. (Houzz never notified me about your reply, so I'm caught a little off guard.) Thinking about is odd because the O. Kings were so successful & Orange is a favorite color of mine! Perhaps it was only that I just had the urge for something different after 2 years of Orange. I definitely urge you to try O. King. I believe if you google "orange king zinnia seeds" and "free shipping", you'll find the same great bargain I got. Zen-I'll likely still be starting some seeds indoors again despite no apparent advantage. I just adore growing things and this recent warm spell has me chomping at the bit. For sure, I'll start some quick ripening mater varieties around St. Patty's day; however, I fear that won't completely satiate my urge to grow some things. I guess I'll just have to wing it on the placement of the California Giants and the Benary's. I wouldn't know where else to look to find out which is tallest. My main flowerbed is actually a large even mound. That should help me deal with the height issue if it's no TOO great. I got 4 new large beds started so far this winter at the back of my property. The hardest work is done. They'll be partially shaded from 3 PM on. But hey! I certainly have plenty of seeds & I think that'll be enough sun to trail some other combinations. So far, my Zinnias have required little real work once they're established. Even weeds cease to be a problem if I keep after them for the first month. dowlinggram-I had orange Magellan 2 summers ago and did like them, a lot! However, they were not nearly as showy from the road as the Orange King were. Last week my Snowdrops started blooming in mass and last night I started watering and slightly warming my Bonfire Begonia tubers in their hanging planters. It's getting more officially spring like every day! Maybe the groundhog wasn't completely right about the number of winter weeks left. : )