15% OFF ALL SEEDS WITH COUPON CODE BLACKFRIDAY
Skip to the content
SELECT SEEDS

We're getting ready for the new year!

We have been busy packing our favorite flower seeds and gearing up for another amazing year. Stay tuned for back in stock seeds and plants for 2025 plus over 75 new varieties!
Zinnia 'Illumination'
Zinnia 'Illumination'
Seed Packet

Zinnia 'Illumination'

Zinnia elegans
Butterflies flutter about these heirloom zinnias on sunny days, the large wide blooms acting as a landing pad for numerous Fritillaries, American Painted Ladies, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails, Skippers, Red Admirals, and more. Easy to grow, 'Illumination' has deep pink flowers that bloom all summer.
SKU #S1605
$3.25
Details
Approximate Seeds Per Packet
100
Lifecycle
Annual
Annual Hardiness
Tender Annual
Mature Size
3' h x 1-2' w
Sun
Full sun
Soil
Rich, well-drained
Season
Summer to fall
Color
Deep rose
Features
Great Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Heat or Drought Tolerant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Bees
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Beneficial Insects
SOWING INSTRUCTIONS
Depth:
1/16-1/4"
Sprout Time:
5-10 days
Seed To Bloom:
9-12 weeks
Starting Indoors:
Sow 6-8 weeks before last frost. Keep at 70-80°F.
Starting Outdoors:
Recommended. Direct sow after last spring frost.
WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE
After last spring frost, when night temperatures remain above 50°F.
PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION
Zinnias brighten up mixed borders, annual beds, and containers in full sun and compost-enriched, well-drained soil. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds will flock to these colorful flowers, for they provide plentiful nectar and pollen. They are easy to grow, sown directly in the garden or started indoors. Give them plenty of room to develop; one sowing method is to plant three seeds every 15-18" or more for large types, and thin out all but the most vigorous grower to ensure air circulation for healthy foliage and space to grow a strong, branching form. Pinch back when seedlings reach about 6-8" in height to encourage more branching and deadhead or cut for bouquets regularly for a midsummer to frost show.
Final Spacing:
1.5-2'
Water Requirements:
Medium Water Use
Watering Details:
Tolerates drought, but performs best when watered regularly. Keep moist, watering only in the morning. Avoid wetting the leaves.
Soil pH:
Acidic to neutral
Fertilizer:
Mix in an organic, all-purpose granular fertilizer soon after planting out, and again when flowering begins.
Diseases & Pests:
Avoid fungal issues by spacing properly and placing in a location with good air circulation. If problems arise, treat with an organic fungicide or neem oil. If slugs are troublesome, treat the surrounding soil with pelletized iron phosphate. Diatomaceous earth or crushed eggshells can also be spread on the surrounding soil to prevent or resolve this issue.
When to Cut for Bouquets:
Freshly opened flowers. Make sure stems are firm and holding bloom upright.