Sorry dahlias, but this low-maintenance, drought-tough flower is stealing the show in gardens this summer – the colourful blooms are real crowd-pleasers
Bold, drought-tolerant AND pollinator-friendly? No wonder this is fast becoming the must-grow summer flower for low-maintenance colour and heat resilience
For years, dahlias have been the undisputed stars of late-summer borders. But as UK summers become hotter, drier and more unpredictable, a new contender is quietly taking over gardens: zinnias.
Cheerful, long-flowering and remarkably unfussy, these bright blooms are winning gardeners over with their ability to keep performing when other favourites start to struggle.
And unlike some traditional bedding plants, they are proving that high impact doesn’t have to mean high maintenance, making it a perfect time to learn how to grow zinnias.
Why zinnias are the hot new flower on the block
One of the biggest shifts driving zinnias’ rise in popularity is their ability to cope with heat and dry conditions, something increasingly relevant for UK gardens.
'Tough, extremely drought-tolerant and perfect for warmer, drier gardens, zinnias are also a magnet for pollinators and bring plenty of bees and butterflies into the garden,' says Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries.
Morris Hankinson is the founder and managing director of Hopes Grove Nurseries Ltd, the UK’s only specialist grower-retailer of hedging plants. He established the thriving business in 1992, shortly after graduating with a Commercial Horticulture Degree from Writtle College, Essex.
Once established, they settle quickly into a steady rhythm of flowering, producing vibrant, daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow and lime green. Whether you plant zinnia seeds in borders, containers or cutting gardens, they deliver consistent colour right through the summer months.
Their long flowering season also makes them particularly valuable in mixed planting schemes, where gaps in colour can otherwise appear during hot spells.
Shop zinnias:
The exotic-looking outer petals on this zinnia fade from pale red to lime green beautifully.
Say hello to this bold heirloom zinnia, which was first introduced in the early 1900s.
The vibrant hues of this variety of zinnia and single and double blooms add a fresh feel to borders and vases alike.
Dahlias still have undeniable appeal, but they come with demands that don’t always suit modern gardens or busy gardeners. Indeed, as Christopher O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived, points out, pest pressure alone can be enough to tip the balance.
'Every UK gardener knows the pain of waking up to find a prized, expensive dahlia shoot eaten down to a slimy nub overnight. Slugs and snails view dahlias as an all-you-can-eat buffet,' he says.
A gardener with over a decade of experience under his belt, Christopher set up Gardens Revived with his brother, Andrew, in 2018 to create a thriving family business. He has since worked on residential gardens, listed buildings and gardens, award-winning RHS flower show gardens, and large estates with some exceeding 70 acres – many with historical significance.
'While zinnias need protection when they are tiny seedlings, they quickly grow tough, rough, bristly stems that slugs generally prefer to leave alone,' Christopher explains.
That natural resistance? Well, it makes them an appealing alternative for gardeners tired of nightly slug patrols and repeated losses. And another key advantage of zinnias is their straightforward growing requirements. Where dahlias demand regular feeding, staking and careful watering, zinnias are far less demanding once established.
'Dahlias are notoriously thirsty divas,' says Christopher. 'To sustain those massive, showy flower heads, they require rich, consistently damp soil and relentless feeding.'
By contrast, zinnias are adapted to far tougher conditions, as they're native to Mexico and absolutely thrive in hot, baking sunshine,' Christopher adds.
He promises: 'As UK summers increasingly feature intense heatwaves and extended dry spells, zinnias handle the heat beautifully without wilting or driving up your water bill.'
Zinnia growing essentials
It's important to give your drought-happy plants a really good mulch to help keep the moisture in. This is a really good make with good reviews.
FAQs
Are zinnias good for wildlife?
A lot of people are turning to zinnias because they are good for wildlife, especially in comparison to dahlias.
'Many popular garden dahlias have been bred to feature tightly packed layers of petals that block insects from reaching the centre,' explains Christopher O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived.
'Zinnias, even the dramatic double-flowered types, open up to expose a distinct ring of tiny, star-shaped yellow flowers right in the middle, making them a haven for bees and butterflies.'
Do I need to plant zinnias every year?
If you want to enjoy zinnias every year, then you need to remember to plant them!
'Zinnias are true annuals. You simply scatter the seeds in late spring once the frost risk has passed,' explains Christopher O’Donoghue, director of Gardens Revived.
'They grow at lightning speed, bloom heavily until autumn, and then you pull them up. No winter storage space required.
Honestly, it's easy to see why zinnias are stealing the show in gardens. After all, that combination of toughness, colour and wildlife value is rare in a single plant, and it’s helping zinnias become something of a staple for savvy gardeners.
So, if you are looking to simplify summer planting without sacrificing impact, look no further! Zinnias offer a clear advantage: reliable colour, minimal fuss and a garden that keeps performing even when temperatures climb.
And, in a season where resilience matters as much as beauty, zinnias are proving hard to beat. Ready, set, plant...
