Zinnia peruviana Andes Jewel - seeds

Zinnia peruviana 'Andes Jewel' is a tough and robust variety that tolerates drought well. It grows in extreme heat or cold conditions and is highly disease-resistant. It offers a profusion of single flowers with a somewhat old-fashioned colour between orange and red. The centre is warm brown with yellow. It is a quick-growing annual that flowers from summer to early autumn. It can be planted mixed with other equally undemanding flowering plants, in borders, flower beds, and as a cut flower.

Zinnia peruviana is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the large family of asteraceae, just like daisies and asters. It is a botanical species native to all of Latin America. The plants have a bushy and erect habit, reaching 70 cm to 1 m in height. Its petals are yellow or red. It is traditionally used for many medicinal properties, which are reputed to be as follows: antifungal, antidiarrheal, antiemetic, hepatoprotective, febrifuge, antihemorrhagic, and healing.

Zinnia peruviana 'Andes Jewel' forms a well-branched clump in a matter of weeks, reaching an average height of 70 cm and a width of 50 cm. Its stems are hollow, adorned with rough and downy, lance-shaped to elliptical, beautiful dark green leaves that enhance the flowers from June-July to September-October, about 9 to 12 weeks after sowing. The flowers are nectar-rich. The flowers appear in the axils of the leaves, they are single heads, 6 cm wide, composed of 10 to 14 toothed petals, slightly curved and overlapping. They surround a rounded brown centre from which golden yellow stamens emerge. Many seeds follow the flowers and will self-seed in light soils.

Zinnias are appreciated for their ease of cultivation. They also show great resilience in conditions where other plants struggle. Zinnias thrive in the sun and withstand high temperatures, as long as they are watered a little. They do best in neutral, rich, and well-drained soil, but they can tolerate ordinary garden soil. Plant them in ornamental gardens, borders, and flower beds, and in the vegetable garden. Combine zinnias with informal, naturally charming plants such as sages, 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.