Flower
Peppermint Stick Zinnia
Zinnia
Peppermint Stick Zinnia is a charming heirloom annual that captures the playful spirit of mid-century American gardens with its uniquely striped and speckled blooms. These medium-sized flowers feature cream or yellow petals dramatically splashed with the brightest cherry red, creating a candy-like appearance that no two plants produce identically. Growing 24, 36 inches tall in full sun, this upright zinnia reaches peak flowering in 50, 90 days (with most sources suggesting 75, 90 days) and produces loads of color throughout the season until frost. Its prolific, long-blooming nature and distinctive spotted-to-fully-double flowers make it a standout choice for cutting gardens and children's plantings alike.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp65-85°F
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
—
Width
9 in
Spacing
50–90
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeSubshrub, Forb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
2-11
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Peppermint Stick apart is its utterly unpredictable beauty, some plants produce densely striped blooms, others speckled, and a few may yield solid colors, making every plant a small surprise. The streaked, peppermint-like patterning on medium-sized flowers was beloved during the Atomic Age and has endured as a true heirloom. It blooms prolifically from mid-summer through fall frost, providing reliable color for vases and borders. These are the kind of zinnias that generate conversation and delight, especially in children's gardens where the candy-striped appearance captivates young growers.
Common Uses
Peppermint Stick Zinnia exists primarily as an ornamental flower, treasured for cutting and arranging. The prolific blooming habit throughout summer and fall makes it ideal for fresh-cut arrangements, where the distinctive striped and speckled petals add whimsy and visual interest. Children's gardens particularly benefit from its playful appearance and reliable performance, teaching young gardeners about the natural variation that occurs in open-pollinated heirlooms.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Mid-summer
First Harvest
Early Summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow at a depth of ¼ inch and maintain soil temperature between 70–85°F for germination within 6–15 days. Do not sow too early; zinnias do not benefit from being started too far in advance and prefer warmer conditions.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant outdoors after the last frost date, once soil has warmed. Harden off seedlings gradually before moving them to the garden. Space transplants 9 inches apart in rows 10 inches apart (or up to 24 inches if you prefer larger, more spacious plants).
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outside 1–2 weeks after your average last frost date, once soil has warmed. Sow at ¼ inch depth and firm soil well over the seeds to ensure good contact.
Harvesting
Harvest flowers for cutting in the morning when blooms are freshest and petals are just opening. Use a clean knife that has been dipped in a solution of 10% household bleach to prevent disease transmission. A few drops of bleach in the vase water will prolong the beauty of cut arrangements and extend vase life.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Zinnia violacea Cav.
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Zinnia
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Peppermint Stick Zinnia belongs to a lineage of zinnias that flourished during the mid-twentieth century, when striped and speckled varieties were fixtures in American home gardens. Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds celebrates this variety as a gem from the Atomic Age, preserving a cultivar that might have faded from cultivation as modern breeding favored uniformity. By offering seeds of this historic strain, heritage seed companies have ensured that home gardeners can still access the exact whimsical flower that delighted their grandparents' generation. The variety's open-pollinated, non-GMO status means seed savers can collect and perpetuate it year after year, keeping this distinctive striped zinnia alive in gardens.”