Zinnia Zinnia elegans 'Zowie! Yellow Flame'
ABOUT
Zowie! Yellow Flame is a vibrant and colorful flowering plant known for its striking, bi-colored blossoms. The flowers exhibit a fiery combination of hues, with their centers starting with a rich, deep red to magenta tone that seamlessly transitions to a bright, sunny yellow at the petal edges. This creates a bold and dramatic visual effect reminiscent of a flame, which is aptly captured in the plant's name. The blooms of Zowie! Yellow Flame are daisy-like in shape, with a layered arrangement of petals emanating from the central cone. These petals are broad and slightly overlapping, with a texture that can range from smooth to a subtle, velvety quality depending on the light and angle. The center cone from which the petals radiate is prominent and typically darker in color, lending depth and contrast to the flower's overall appearance. This plant's foliage serves as a lush backdrop for the radiant blossoms. The leaves are usually lance-shaped or oblong, with a pleasing green color that may vary in intensity. They create a dense canopy that provides a visual anchor, allowing the flowers to stand out even more. Overall, Zowie! Yellow Flame's bold colors and abundant blossoms make it a popular choice for gardeners seeking to add a splash of drama and vibrancy to their garden landscapes, containers, or as delightful cut flowers to brighten indoor spaces.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Asteraceae.
Synonyms
Zowie! Yellow Flame Zinnia, Elegans Zinnia, Common Zinnia, Youth-and-Age, Elegant Zinnia.
Common names
Zinnia elegans, Zinnia violacea.
ToxicityTo humans
Zinnia elegans, commonly known as Zinnia, is not known to be toxic to humans. There are no significant toxic effects expected from contact with or ingestion of Zinnias.
To pets
Zinnia elegans, commonly referred to as Zinnia, is generally considered non-toxic to pets. It does not typically cause serious symptoms of poisoning if pets ingest parts of the plant. However, individual sensitivities vary, and mild gastrointestinal upset may occur in some animals if they consume a large amount of the plant.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Annuals
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Mixed
Height
2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
Spread
1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
9
Native area
Mexico
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Zinnia elegans 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' is known for attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that aid in pollination of gardens.
- Vibrant Colors: Provides gardens with stunning yellow and red bi-colored blooms that offer aesthetic appeal to any landscape.
- Easy to Grow: Known for being easy to cultivate, requiring minimal maintenance, which makes it ideal for novice gardeners.
- Drought Tolerant: Can withstand periods of low water, making it suitable for various climates and water-wise gardens.
- Long Blooming Season: Offers a lengthy display of flowers from spring to frost, providing continuous color in the garden.
- Cut Flower: Makes excellent cut flowers for arrangements due to their long vase life and bright, cheerful colors.
- Heat Resistant: Well-suited for hot and sunny locations, maintaining vibrant colors even during the heat of summer.
- Edging Plants: Their size and shape make them suitable for use as border plants or edging in garden beds.
- Container Gardening: Adaptable to container gardening, allowing for versatility in placement and garden design.
- Deer Resistance: Less attractive to deer, which helps prevent damage and losses in areas with deer populations.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Zinnia can be used as a natural food dye; the petals of Zowie! Yellow Flame zinnia contain pigments that can tint foods and beverages with a yellow to orange color.
- Dried zinnia petals can be incorporated into homemade paper to add texture and color, providing a unique and artistic touch to the paper-making process.
- Zinnia flowers can be used in potpourri mixes due to their vibrant colors and ability to retain shape when dried, adding aesthetic appeal to the mix.
- Pressed zinnia flowers can be used in scrapbooking and greeting card creation to embellish and add a three-dimensional floral element.
- As a natural fabric dye, zinnia petals can be used to create patterns and color on fabrics like cotton and silk for crafting or wearable art.
- Zinnias can attract beneficial insects like butterflies and bees to the garden, which are not only beautiful but also essential for pollination services.
- The brightly colored Zowie! Yellow Flame zinnias can be used in color therapy practices, which use colors to balance energy in the body, mind, and spirit.
- Zinnias can serve as natural indicators for garden health; a diverse array of insect visitors can demonstrate a healthy ecosystem.
- Used as a teaching tool, zinnias can help children learn about plant growth cycles, pollination, and the importance of biodiversity in gardens.
- Zinnia petals can be used as confetti for outdoor celebrations, providing an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic confetti that decomposes naturally.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiZinnia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityZinnia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Memory: Zinnias are often associated with the remembrance of absent friends, which makes them a symbol for enduring affection and lasting memories.
- Friendship: The flower's long-lasting nature is symbolic of strong and lasting friendships.
- Endurance: Zinnias are hardy plants that can withstand full sun and warm temperatures, symbolizing resilience and endurance in difficult situations.
- Daily Remembrance: In some traditions, zinnias are given to remember someone that is missed every day, symbolizing daily thoughts of a loved one.
- Affection: The vibrant and multi-petaled nature of zinnias makes them a symbol of affection and signifies the blending of friends or families together.
- Uniqueness: The 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' variety, with its distinctive bi-colored petals, highlights uniqueness and encourages embracing individuality.
- Goodness: The bright colors of zinnias are often representative of goodness and the presence of joy in one's life.
WaterZinnias should be watered deeply a few times a week, depending on weather conditions and soil moisture. Generally, providing about 1 inch of water per week, equivalent to roughly 0.6 gallons per square yard of soil, is sufficient. For 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' zinnias, water at the base to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to fungal diseases. During hot, dry periods, you may need to water more frequently to keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Reduce watering if rainfall provides the needed moisture or if the weather is cool and cloudy.
LightZinnias, including 'Zowie! Yellow Flame,' thrive in full sun. They require a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to grow strong and produce abundant blooms. The best spot for these plants is in an open area with unfiltered sunlight, away from shade-causing buildings or trees. Keep in mind, the more sunlight zinnias receive, the better their overall health and flowering.
Temperature'Zowie! Yellow Flame' zinnias prefer warm conditions and should be grown in temperatures between 60°F and 85°F for optimal growth. They can survive temperatures as low as 50°F but growth will be slowed, and they're at risk of frost damage below this temperature. They can tolerate high temperatures up to about 100°F, but flowering may be affected if temperatures are consistently high and not balanced with adequate watering.
PruningPruning 'Zowie! Yellow Flame' zinnias is primarily done to encourage bushier growth and to prolong their blooming period. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, should be done regularly throughout the blooming season to encourage more blooms. The best time for additional pruning, such as removing damaged or diseased foliage or shaping the plant, is in the early morning when the plant is most hydrated.
CleaningAs needed
SoilZinnia elegans 'Zowie! Yellow Flame', commonly known as zinnia, thrives best in rich, well-draining soil with a pH range of 5.5-7.5. A mix consisting of garden soil, compost, and a bit of sand for improved drainage makes an excellent soil recipe for zinnias to flourish.
RepottingZinnias, when grown in containers, may need repotting every year to replenish soil nutrients. Zinnias are typically grown as annuals and are not commonly repotted as they complete their life cycle in one season.
Humidity & MistingZinnias prefer moderate humidity conditions and generally thrive in outdoor environments where they receive fresh air circulation. They are tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels as long as they are not in overly wet soils.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Ensure full sun, well-draining soil, and moderate watering.
Outdoor
Choose sunny spot, well-drained soil, and water regularly.
Hardiness zone
3-10 USDA
Life cycleZowie! Yellow Flame, commonly known as Zinnia, begins its life as a seed that, when planted in fertile, well-drained soil and provided with adequate warmth, germinates within 5 to 7 days. After germination, the seedling emerges, developing true leaves and a root system. Following the establishment of the seedling, the Zinnia enters a vegetative growth stage where it produces a robust stem and a lush foliage structure, typically reaching full size within 60 to 70 days. Once mature, Zowie! Yellow Flame transitions to the flowering stage, displaying its signature vibrant, bicolor petals in shades of yellow and red for a visually striking effect attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. After pollination, the flowers produce seeds in the form of dry capsules, completing the reproductive cycle. As an annual plant, Zowie! Yellow Flame completes its entire life cycle within one growing season, after which the plant dies, but the seeds can be collected for replanting the following season.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Propogation: Zinnia elegans 'Zowie! Yellow Flame', commonly known as Zinnia, is typically propagated through seeds. The ideal time to sow Zinnia seeds is after the last frost when the soil has warmed, usually in late spring. To propagate, simply scatter the seeds lightly onto the surface of well-drained soil and cover them with a thin layer, no more than 1/4 inch (about 6 millimeters) deep. Keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged is essential for germination. Zinnia seeds usually germinate within 5 to 7 days in temperatures around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 27 degrees Celsius). Thin the seedlings once they've grown a few sets of true leaves to allow for ample airflow and room to mature.
