Zinnias are bold, bright, and beautiful; a must-have in every summer garden. These flowers are easy to grow, come in nearly every color except blue, and bloom nonstop from late spring until the first frost. Their low-maintenance nature and vibrant display make them a go-to favorite for gardeners of all levels.
You can plant them in borders, containers, cutting gardens, or pollinator beds. Whether you love soft pastels or fiery neons, there's a zinnia that fits your style. Plus, most varieties thrive in full sun and don’t mind the heat.
Here are 23 colorful varieties that can turn any sunny garden into a vibrant, months-long celebration of blooms.
1. Queen Lime Orange (Zinnia elegans)
This elegant zinnia blends soft peach, lime green, and rose hues in layered, ruffled petals. Its coloring gives it an antique, sophisticated feel that stands out. These blooms add a romantic and unexpected twist to sunny garden spaces.
The plant grows tall and upright with sturdy stems that hold up well in breezy conditions. It's perfect for garden beds that need a vertical boost. Gardeners often use it as a statement piece or a unique filler.
Florists love it for arrangements because the blooms are long-lasting and hold their form. Their pale coloring pairs well with deeper shades. It’s a favorite for soft-toned bouquets and wedding designs.
2. Zinderella Lilac (Zinnia elegans)
Zinderella Lilac is known for its scabiosa-like, ruffled center that gives the flower a vintage, floral pom-pom look. The petals are a soft, romantic lilac shade. It instantly softens garden layouts with its delicate appeal.
Compact and bushy, this zinnia works well along borders or tucked into cottage gardens. Its unique texture attracts butterflies and bees. Even small spaces can enjoy their dainty charm.
The sturdy stems and long vase life make it a great cut flower. It pairs beautifully with whites and pastel pinks, making it a whimsical, high-impact addition for floral designers.
3. Benary's Giant Scarlet (Zinnia elegans)
Benary’s Giant Scarlet makes a dramatic impression with fiery red, fully double blooms. The flowers are massive and packed with layers of bold petals. This variety brings unmistakable energy to the garden.
Its tall stature makes it perfect for the back of borders or mass plantings. These plants grow vigorously in summer heat and have strong resistance to mildew. They're a favorite among pollinators like butterflies.
As a cut flower, it offers excellent vase life and vivid color. Use it in mixed arrangements to add intensity. It’s perfect for bold, festive designs or patriotic themes.
4. Envy (Zinnia elegans)
Envy is a striking choice with pale green, chartreuse petals that look cool and fresh. It's one of the few green flowers shining as brightly as their colorful cousins. Its modern vibe pairs well with purples and pinks.
The plant grows upright and does well in full sun with regular watering. It adds a fresh tone to floral borders or contrast in vibrant arrangements. Gardeners looking for unusual color will find Envy irresistible.
This variety performs well in vases and adds elegance to floral designs. It's subtle green works as a neutral accent. Envy is often the quiet star in contemporary arrangements.
5. Persian Carpet (Zinnia haageana)
Persian Carpet delivers a rich blend of maroon, orange, gold, and cream tones. Each flower resembles an intricate tile pattern, full of unique details. This compact variety thrives in small spaces.
It’s a favorite for edging, pots, and mass plantings where the fine color mix stands out. The blooms are smaller but densely packed for dramatic effect. Even a small patch makes a big visual impact.
These plants are fast growers and provide an extended season of blooms. They’re heat-tolerant and easy to care for. Bees love them, and kids are drawn to their patterned petals.
6. Profusion Cherry (Zinnia hybrida)
Profusion Cherry produces masses of bright magenta-pink blooms from spring through fall. It forms a tidy mound that’s ideal for edging or container gardens. The non-stop flowers create a lush look with minimal care.
This hybrid is praised for its disease resistance and ability to thrive in both heat and humidity. It's a smart choice for busy gardeners. Even with little attention, it keeps putting on a show.
Its long blooming time and compact habit make it a landscape favorite. No need for deadheading; it keeps blooming on its own. It’s a true low-maintenance superstar.
7. Queen Red Lime (Zinnia elegans)
Queen Red Lime blends deep burgundy with pale lime in one incredible bloom. The mix creates a vintage, two-toned effect that's elegant and earthy. It adds drama without being overpowering.
The medium-height plants stand out in borders or mixed beds. Their unusual coloring complements both warm and cool palettes. They look especially beautiful with dusty roses and muted greens.
Gardeners and florists love it for texture and longevity. It holds its color well and lasts long in arrangements. This one adds refinement wherever it grows.
8. State Fair Mix (Zinnia elegans)
This classic mix offers giant, dahlia-like blooms in a full spectrum of colors, from bold red and orange to bright pink and yellow. It's a visual celebration. The plants are tall and make a big impression.
They’re perfect for the back of borders, garden beds, or cut flower patches. Their size makes them easy to see from a distance, and pollinators, especially butterflies, love their open centers.
The blooms are long-lasting and mildew-resistant, even in hot weather. State Fair Mix brings cheerful abundance to any landscape. It’s the go-to for big color with little fuss.
9. Zahara Starlight Rose (Zinnia marylandica)
This bicolor beauty features crisp white petals with rosy pink centers. The contrast is soft and eye-catching, adding a refreshing touch to gardens and containers.
Zahara Starlight Rose thrives in hot, humid climates and easily resists mildew. It’s a great option for reliable performance in tough spots, and its compact shape is perfect for patio planters.
You’ll enjoy blooms all summer without needing to deadhead. The tidy growth habit also keeps your garden looking neat. It’s a favorite for high-impact, low-effort beds.
10. White Wedding (Zinnia elegans)
White Wedding lives up to its name with pristine, snow-white blooms that bring the garden a clean and elegant touch. These fully double flowers offer classic beauty and pair well with almost any other color. Their bright presence brings calm to colorful plantings.
This medium-height variety has strong stems that support its large blooms, making it great for borders and bouquets. It blooms generously throughout the summer season with little care. Its upright habit and uniform shape make it a designer’s favorite.
White Wedding is perfect for romantic garden themes or all-white flower beds. It’s heat-tolerant and long-lasting in the garden, as well as its floral arrangements; a timeless addition to any sunny spot.
11. Benary's Giant Lime (Zinnia elegans)
This lime green beauty offers massive blooms on tall, sturdy stems. The soft green petals bring freshness and elegance to garden beds, making it an excellent contrast to brighter flowers.
The plant’s height makes it perfect for back borders and bouquets. It handles heat well and resists disease. Florists love the bold texture and unusual color.
These flowers pair well with pinks, blues, and even reds. It’s a refined option for floral displays. Use it to create cool, calm arrangements.
12. Double Zahara Fire (Zinnia marylandica)
Double Zahara Fire explodes with layered red and orange petals that mimic glowing embers. The double blooms offer extra fullness and visual impact, lighting a garden bed.
These compact plants are tidy and ideal for smaller gardens and pots. They bloom without deadheading and resist mildew. Even in hot conditions, they stay strong and colorful.
This variety provides long-lasting color with little work. Use it in bold plantings or mix with softer colors for contrast. It's a favorite in high-heat zones.
13. Swizzle Cherry and Ivory (Zinnia elegans)
Swizzle Cherry & Ivory is a charming bicolor variety with red petals edged in creamy white. The blooms look like festive pinwheels that brighten any space. These short plants grow in tidy mounds, perfect for pots or flower bed borders.
Their compact size makes them ideal for patios, balconies, or children’s gardens. Even with minimal care, they bloom heavily throughout the season. The striking color contrast adds cheer wherever they're planted.
Thanks to their mildew resistance and strong stems, they stay healthy even in hot, humid climates. Their bright, bushy appearance also pairs beautifully with trailing or upright companions.
14. Crystal White (Zinnia angustifolia)
Crystal White produces simple, bright white flowers that offer a clean, calming effect in vibrant gardens. These petite blooms look stunning next to deep purples or fiery oranges, and their fresh appearance helps balance bold color schemes.
Compact and low-growing, this variety is excellent for edging walkways or planting in mass. It also thrives in containers and needs very little maintenance. The neat growth habit makes it perfect for formal or casual layouts.
Crystal White is beautiful to pollinators like bees and butterflies. It performs best in full sun and blooms consistently throughout the season.
15. Benary's Giant Lilac (Zinnia elegans)
Benary's Giant Lilac features lush, dome-shaped blooms in a rich lavender-pink shade. The tightly packed petals form a symmetrical, eye-catching display. It adds elegance and volume to any flower bed or border.
These tall plants have strong stems ideal for cutting gardens and floral arrangements. They bloom profusely in full sun and withstand heat and humidity well. Their size and structure also attract pollinators.
Benary's Giant Lilac is a standout for gardeners seeking a soft, yet vibrant splash of color. It pairs beautifully with lime greens and deeper purples. A garden classic with undeniable charm.
16. Canary Bird (Zinnia elegans)
Canary Bird blooms with soft, feathery petals in a cheerful yellow hue. Its delicate form and bright color bring light to any garden corner. This petite plant fits easily into rock gardens, containers, or border edges.
Though small, it's packed with personality and blooms profusely in full sun. The plant’s compact shape makes it easy to manage. It mixes beautifully with both bold and pastel flowers.
Pollinators love its open blooms, and gardeners love its cheerful charm. With little care, it rewards you with nonstop brightness.
17. Golden Hour (Zinnia elegans)
Golden Hour glows with warm yellow-orange petals that deepen in color as the sun sets. The blooms are full and radiant, giving your garden a golden, sunset-kissed look. Their size and richness make them a standout among summer flowers.
This variety stays compact but has a strong presence in beds and containers. It flourishes in heat and sun, producing blooms nonstop through the season. The sturdy stems also make it great for small, cheerful bouquets.
Golden Hour is perfect for lighting up borders or framing entryways. Its luminous color adds instant warmth and charm to any garden spot.
18. Uproar Rose (Zinnia elegans)
Uproar Rose shines with vivid hot pink blooms that make a bold garden statement. These large, bright flowers are perfect for adding drama to beds or borders. Their intense color doesn’t fade, even in full sun.
Each plant grows tall with sturdy stems, making them excellent for cutting and floral arrangements. Gardeners love their reliable, uniform bloom shape. They last long in vases and pair well with softer hues.
This variety blooms nonstop from midsummer to frost with minimal upkeep. Give it sun, water, and a little love; it won’t disappoint.
19. Lilliput Mix (Zinnia elegans)
Lilliput Mix offers tiny, button-like flowers in every bright shade imaginable. Their petite size makes them perfect for edges, borders, and fairy gardens. Despite being small, they bloom with impressive volume and energy.
These plants stay compact and rounded, adding neat, colorful detail wherever planted. Their long-lasting blooms hold up well in small bouquets. Children especially love their playful, mini form.
Plant them in clusters for the best visual impact. They thrive in full sun and bloom steadily with little maintenance.
20. Peppermint Stick (Zinnia elegans)
Peppermint Stick is known for its wild, candy-striped petals in bold red, pink, and white patterns. Each bloom is unique, adding excitement to any flower bed. The playful coloration makes it a standout in mixed plantings.
The plants grow to a mid-height, making them versatile in the garden. They pair well with both solids and other variegated flowers. Their blooms are long-lasting and keep their stripes even in strong sunlight.
Great for kids' gardens or eye-catching floral designs, this variety adds surprise and cheer. It thrives in hot weather and is easy to grow.
21. Zahara Yellow (Zinnia marylandica)
Zahara Yellow bursts with golden blooms that radiate warmth and sunshine. The cheerful flowers bloom nonstop, even in intense heat. Their bold color holds up well through summer's toughest days.
These zinnias are compact and disease-resistant, making them ideal for low-maintenance gardening. They’re perfect for borders, mass plantings, or patio containers; the vibrant yellow pairs beautifully with purples and blues.
The open centers attract pollinators, helping to support garden biodiversity. They’re an easy choice for consistent color with minimal effort.
22. Zesty Orange (Zinnia elegans)
Zesty Orange offers brilliant tangerine blooms with a bold, sunny presence. The flowers are fully double, radiating energy and warmth in every petal. It’s a favorite for adding citrus color to garden beds.
This variety grows to a medium height, making it great for middle borders or large pots. The plants are bushy and bloom heavily with regular sun exposure. It pairs beautifully with purples, whites, and soft pinks.
Zesty Orange is long-lasting both in the garden and in cut arrangements. It thrives in heat and continues to shine through dry spells. An excellent choice for vibrant summer displays.
23. Scarlet Flame (Zinnia elegans)
Scarlet Flame dazzles with blazing red-orange petals that command attention. The large, semi-double flowers stand out against green foliage, giving your garden fiery flair. This variety is perfect for those who love bold, hot tones.
It thrives in full sun and produces blooms steadily throughout summer. The plant reaches medium height and fits well in garden beds and patio pots. Its upright stems also make it excellent for cutting.
Scarlet Flame holds color well and adds energy to any space. Use it to liven up dull corners or energize mixed borders. A reliable performer, it delivers intense color with ease.
A Garden of Rainbows
Zinnias offer one of the most diverse color palettes in the flower world, from lime green to deep scarlet. Every variety has its charm, whether it’s its bloom's size, shape, or boldness.
Mixing tall and short types creates layers of color that catch the eye from every angle. Pair spiky cactus forms with classic round blooms for extra texture.
From early summer to first frost, these flowers deliver a dazzling display without demanding much. With 23 unique varieties, your garden can be a color party all season long.