Zinnia elegans Macarenia Seeds

Zinnia elegans 'Macarenia' is a new variety of tall Zinnia that is still not widely distributed in France and whose large, flamboyantly coloured flower heads are perfect for brightening up summer beds. The plants are well branched, and produce an abundance of large, fluffy, semi-double capitula with scarlet petals tipped with yellow and darker centres. Sow this zinnia in March-April, and it will flower from summer until the first frosts. Its flowers, borne on long stems, are also great in bouquets!

Zinnia elegans is a sturdy annual belonging to the family Asteraceae, that is native to Mexico and has given rise to many cultivars. 'Macarenia' is just one of them and was selected for its abundant large capitula and their lively colours. The plant forms a well-branched mound, measuring on average 60 cm high and 40 cm wide. Its stems are hollow and snap relatively easily. They carry rough, downy, lanceolate to elliptical, medium green leaves. Flowering occurs from June-July to September-October in the form of nectar-rich, melliferous blooms. The axillary flowers are large, semi-double, hemispherical, slightly flattened capitula reaching 7-8 cm across, that are composed of numerous ligulate flowers with fringed edges, similar in appearance to the inflorescences of certain dahlias. They are scarlet red and are broadly edged with yellow-orange. The burgundy centre of the flower is more or less peppered with white. 

Much appreciated for their sturdiness, striking colours and ease of cultivation, Zinnias are a valuable asset in any garden. Versatile, they can be placed in borders, flowerbeds or in the vegetable garden, between rows of crops. Zinnia thrives in the sun and tolerates heat very well, provided they are watered every once in a while. It performs best in neutral, rich, well-drained soil. It is quite undemanding, adapting to any average garden soil. You can easily combine it with perennials such as pink Rudbeckias or other annuals such as Coreopsis or Ammi visnaga. They can also be sown in pots to decorate the terrace in summer. It is a nectar-rich plant that is positively adored by bees and butterflies.