Zinnia peruviana

RHS Plant Profile

Peruvian zinnia

Other common names

red spider zinnia, zinnia 'Red Spider'

Synonyms

Zinnia peruviana 'Red Spider'
Zinnia 'Red Spider'
Chrysogonum peruvianum
Zinnia tenuiflora

Annual Biennial

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An upright, sparsely branched annual to 1m, with rough, bristly stems and leaves and single, daisy-like flowers in shades of red, orange, deep pink or yellow in summer and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H2

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Zinnia can be annuals, perennials or sub-shrubs, with branching stems bearing opposite leaves and solitary terminal flower-heads in summer
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: S USA to Arg.

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, well-drained, fertile soil in full sun. Best grown in an open situation to minimise problems with powdery mildew

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in pots in spring, or in warm areas, sown in situ in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Wildlife gardens
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Cut flowers

Pruning

Deadhead to prolong flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds, powdery mildews and a leaf spot