Zinnia elegans Pinwheel Mixed - seeds

Zinnia 'Pinwheel Mixed' is a dwarf variety of this annual that is very floriferous and low-maintenance. It has daisy-like flowers in a mix of colours, including yellow, orange, and dark pink, with a dark yellow stamen centre. This cultivar is resistant to mildew and blooms continuously from July until mid-October. It is easy to grow in the garden where it adorns borders and meadow edges, and it brightens up floral arrangements. It is resistant to heat and can be planted alongside other equally versatile flowering plants.

The approximately 20 species that make up the Zinnia genus are native to dry prairies in an area ranging from the southwest of North America to South America, but mostly from Mexico. They belong to the aster family.

The 'Pinwheel Mixed' variety forms a small, well-branched clump that averages 30 cm (12in) in height and width. The medium green, hairy leaves are narrow and sheathing at the base. The slender stems are often tinged with red near the ground. Flowering occurs from July to mid-October and is nectar-rich and attractive to bees. The flowers appear in the axils of the leaves and are semi-double, 5 cm (2in) wide heads, composed of a double row of ligulate petals surrounding a centre of fertile florets that darken as they mature.

Zinnias are appreciated for their ease of cultivation, and rightly so. They also prove to be very robust in conditions where other plants struggle. Zinnias thrive in the sun and withstand high temperatures well, as long as they are watered regularly. They prefer neutral, rich, well-drained soil, but can tolerate ordinary garden soil. Plant them in ornamental gardens, borders, and flower beds, and vegetable gardens. Pair zinnias with informal, naturally charming plants such as sage, perennial geraniums, and coreopsis. Clumps of ornamental grasses with their spikes mingling with zinnia flowers make a beautiful display. They can also be sown in pots to decorate the terrace in summer. This nectar-rich plant will delight bees and butterflies.