Zinnia elegans Lilliput Oklahoma Salmon seeds

Zinnia elegans Lilliput Oklahoma Salmon is a medium-sized variety, with semi-double to predominantly double flowers, forming small but numerous, charming pompons. Sow this herbaceous annual early in spring, and it will germinate quickly, producing young plants ready to flower from July onwards, and throughout the summer. The flower heads are salmon-coloured and combine wonderfully with the medium green foliage. This zinnia is very attractive in borders and can also be grown in containers. It will create very beautiful cut flower arrangements to decorate the home.

Zinnia belongs to the large Asteraceae family, one of the most important in the vegetable kingdom with over 23,000 species, ranking just behind orchids in terms of diversity. This family includes wild plants, such as Thistles, and many ornamental species like Yarrows or Dahlias. Their particularity lies in their characteristic inflorescences: a centre of small fertile tubular flowers, surrounded by sterile flowers arranged in a crown, often mistakenly likened to simple petals. This floral structure, frequently confused with a single flower, is the origin of the former name for this family, "Compositae". 
The Zinnia genus comprises about twenty species, annual or perennial. Among them, Zinnia elegans, native to Mexico, is the most widespread. As it doesn't tolerate the cold, it is cultivated as an annual in our latitudes. Horticulturists have developed many decorative varieties from this species, seeking new colours or flower shapes. The Lilliput Oklahoma Salmon variety develops quickly after sowing to form a clump 50 to 60 cm in height, and approximately 25 cm in width. Its stems are rigid and branching, adorned with medium green, ovoid leaves with a pointed tip. Lacking petioles (they are said to be sessile), the leaf blade is therefore attached directly to the stem. The leaves are opposite, situated directly across from each other on either side of the stem, and decussate, meaning each pair of leaves is offset by 90° from the previous pair. This elegant Zinnia gets its name, Lilliput, from the modest size of its flowers; the heads only measure 3 to 4 cm in diameter. They develop from July onwards and renew themselves until the first frosts. Mostly very double, they have the appearance of small, salmon pompons, ranging from a soft pink to a peachy pink. The flowers are not fragrant, but they attract butterflies, which come to sip their nectar.

Zinnia elegans Lilliput Oklahoma Salmon is easy to propagate from seed and easy to grow. It prefers warm, sunny positions and well-drained soil. You can plant it in a container on a terrace, or in the second row of a border, just behind the edging plants. By also sowing Cosmos seeds, you can create very beautiful flowering borders all summer long. Place the Cosmos behind your Zinnia; their fine, cut foliage will create a very pleasant contrast, and the flowers will harmonise perfectly. Annual Sages will also be very good border companions, sharing the same needs as the Zinnia and proving just as floriferous. You can also create beautiful cut flower arrangements, which have excellent vase life and decorate your interior.