Gift Zinnia is a classic Zinnia elegans cultivar that grows 36 to 48 inches tall and produces abundant cut flowers around 80 days from seed. Hardy across zones 2 through 11, this variety thrives in full sun with moderate water and soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The plant carries centuries of botanical history, named in honor of Johan Gottfried Zinn, an 18th-century German botanist whose legacy is immortalized both in the flower's name and in human anatomy.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
48in H x 12in W
—
High
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Zinnias were once dismissed as weeds in their native Mexico, called 'mal de ojos' (bad for the eyes), yet this humble flower caught the attention of European botanists in the mid-1700s and transformed into one of the most beloved cutting flowers. Gift Zinnia grows tall and sturdy, reaching up to 4 feet, making it an exceptional choice for cut arrangements and garden height. The variety produces abundant blooms throughout the season, rewarding consistent care with weeks of colorful stems perfect for picking.
Gift Zinnia is grown primarily as a cut flower. The tall stems and prolific blooms make it an excellent choice for floral arrangements, bouquets, and fresh-cut displays that can brighten interior spaces for days.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors in a seed-starting mix, keeping soil temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days. Start seeds approximately 80 days before your expected harvest date, typically 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 12 inches apart, with rows 18 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date and when soil has warmed to at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Sow seeds and keep soil consistently moist until germination.
Begin cutting flowers once plants have reached full height and buds have opened into mature blooms, typically around 80 days from seed. Harvest cut flowers in the early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Use sharp pruners to cut stems at least 12 inches long, removing spent flowers promptly to encourage continued blooming throughout the season.
Pinch out the center stem when plants are 6 inches tall to encourage bushier growth and more abundant flower production. Remove spent blooms regularly to extend the flowering season and direct energy into continuous flower development.
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“The story of the zinnia begins in Mexico, where it grew as an unremarkable weed until the German Ambassador to Mexico sent seeds to Johan Gottfried Zinn, a professor of botany who provided the first detailed description of the flower and made significant contributions to the study of human eye anatomy. So impressed was the botanical establishment with Zinn's work that Carolus Linnaeus posthumously named the entire genus Zinnia in his honor. This variety, Gift Zinnia, represents that transformed legacy, carrying forward the journey from dismissed weed to prized garden flower.”