4 Zinnia Varieties That Are Perfect for Summer Cutting Gardens

If you’re dreaming of armloads of cheerful, long-lasting cut and come again blooms all summer long—zinnias are your go-to. These heat-loving, easy-to-grow beauties are a must in any cut flower garden. I’ve grown several varieties over the years, and today I’m spilling the zinnia tea on my top five favorites for any summer cut flower garden. 

Whether you're filling your vases, farmers market stands, or just want to impress your neighbors, these zinnias deliver big time. Bonus? All of these are available through Botanical Interests—my go-to source for high-quality seeds!

*Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links and I make a small commission when you purchase through them—thanks for supporting my flower farm!

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1. Benary’s Giant Zinnias – The Queen of the Cutting Patch

These are the workhorses of my flower farm and the first Zinnia's I ever grew! Benary’s are known for their large blooms that come in a rainbow of colors. Here are a few reason's they are great for the cut flower garden:

1. They have long, strong stems that are perfect for bouquets.
2. They hold up beautifully in the vase, when harvested at the correct stage.
3. Zinnias are a cut and come again flower which makes for a great addition to any flower farm or cutting garden. The more you cut them, the more they bloom!

Shop Benary's Giant Blend here!

I love the mix of colors because it's a surprise when they bloom! It also helps you decided what specific colors you want to order more of for next summers cutting garden. 

One of the reasons I love Zinnias on a flower farm is they need to be in full bloom when harvested. This is opposite from how most flowers are harvested for cutting. Most flowers are cut before full bloom. There are a few tricks to know before harvesting Zinnias. If harvested too early, they could flop in the vase. Check out my demonstration videos on YouTube if you are new to harvesting zinnias in your flower garden. Zinnias are included in my Summer Cut Flower Harvesting Cheat Sheet printable that includes 10 popular summer cut flowers to grow. It is perfect to print and put in your garden journal to reference when harvesting flowers!

https://youtu.be/j0_5I1Cq2UM?si=quvhfQZpklRp_iDY

2. Queen Lime Series – The Trendy Favorite 

These are perfect for creating arrangements who love a whimsical and  antique vibes. I find that these particular Zinnias hold up the longest in a vase compared to other Zinnias which could be due to their more circular compact bloom head. I especially love to watch these zinnias bloom into the fall because I find that their colors change beautifully with the cooler nights of fall. 

Queen Lime zinnias come in colors like blush, orange, and red with green undertones that look like they've stepped out of a painting.
Shop Queen Lime Zinnias below:

• Queeny Lime Red (a flower farmer favorite for a reason)
• Queeny Lime Orange (adds a warm pop without being too bright)

The Queen Series Zinnias are featured in this colorful summer cut flower arrangement I made a few years ago. It still continues to be one of my most likely photos to date and I know it is because of those gorgeous Zinnias!

3. Zinnia Giant Purple – A Total Showstopper

As a purple lover, it is no surprise that the Zinnia Giant Purple is on this summer list! It has huge, vibrant magenta blooms that always turn heads in bouquets. It adds the perfect bold pop next to softer tones like blush or peach. It’s easy to grow, super productive, and quickly became one of my unexpected favorites in the garden.

Shop Giant Purple Zinnias

4. Zinnia Cut and Come Again Mix

If you’re new to growing zinnias, this mix is a great place to start. The Cut and Come Again Mix lives up to its name—each time you harvest a bloom, more come right back! It’s a cheerful blend of bright colors with different-sized flowers on strong stems, perfect for everyday bouquets and filling your garden with nonstop color. Some of the blooms are smaller which are super cute in arrangements. 

Shop Zinnia Cut and Come Again Mix

Bonus Tips for Growing Zinnias Like a Pro:

• Direct sow or transplant: Zinnias do great direct sown after your last frost date when the ground has warmed up in Spring. You can also start Zinnias indoors to get a head start.  
• Pinch early: Once your seedlings have about 2-3 sets of true leaves, pinch them to encourage branching. Watch one of my Zinnia pinching videos here.
• Harvest often: The more you cut, the more they bloom!

Zinnia Seed Shaker

Do you want to plant a large space with a lot of Zinnia seeds? Don't want to mess with opening a zillion packets? Let me introduce you to the Zinnia Seed Shaker that covers approx. 500 sq ft of garden space to get you to zinnia bliss! There are soooo many seeds in this container! Makes scattering a ton of Zinnia seeds easy! Also, can we talk about how CUTE this container is! I'd love to know how you would repurpose it down in the comments!

Shop Zinnia Seed Shaker

Ready to Grow?

Zinnias are beginner-friendly, budget-friendly, and bouquet-friendly. If I had to pick just one flower to recommend d to first time cut flower growers, it would be a Zinnia.  
If you’re stocking up on seeds, don’t forget to shop through my Botanical Interests link here to grab all these varieties and support my little flower farm in the process.

Let me know in the comments which zinnia variety you're dying to try this year—or if you have a favorite I need to grow!

Happy planting!

PS- If you are new to cut flower growing and excited to dig in, check out my free Beginner Cut Flower Garden Guide and Workbook!

Grab the Free Guide