Zinnia Cupcake Mix
$4.95
Zinnia Elegans
- Seed Count 100
- Long Lasting Blooms
- Annual
- Height 1m
In stock
Description
Zinnia Cupcake Mix is an easy-going bloomer that brings big charm, bold colour, and buckets of cheer to your garden beds and bouquets. The blooms themselves are a playful blend of semi-double, double, and single petal forms, each flower shaped like a little ruffled cake, hence the sweet-as-sugar name. You’ll find petals in all kinds of arrangements, some that look like tightly packed pom-poms, and others more open and airy, giving pollinators a clear runway to the golden centre.
Zinnias are the kind of flower that don’t need fussing over. They love heat, sunshine, and well-drained soil which are things that most Australian summer gardens have in spades. Once they’re established, they’re surprisingly drought-tolerant, bouncing back from hot days and dry spells with barely a wilted leaf. The plants themselves are compact but abundant, forming tidy bushes about a metre tall and wide, and they’ll keep flowering for months on end if you give them the odd deadhead and let them soak up the sun.
If your garden bed feels a little flat or monotonous, Zinnia Cupcake Mix can really shake things up. The flowers have a rich, almost sculptural quality that adds a pop of vibrancy to borders, pots, and pathways. They contrast beautifully with soft grasses, silver-foliaged herbs, and other open-faced flowers like cosmos or echinacea. Pop them in amongst your veggies or edge your garden with them as they will they look right at home wherever they’re planted and a large pot or trough filled with this mix becomes an instant centerpiece on patios, balconies, and verandas.
If you’re someone who’s newer to gardening or not quite confident about flower-growing yet, Zinnias are as close to fail-safe as you can get. The seeds are large and easy to handle, the germination is reliable, and the growth is quick enough that you don’t need to wait long for the first flush of colour. From a cut flower perspective, Zinnias are a dream. They have strong stems, a long vase life, and a bloom form that stands out in any arrangement.
| Method: Sow direct | Soil Temp: 20°C - 30°C |
| Cool Mountain: Sep - Nov | Position: Full sun |
| Arid: Sep - Nov | Row Spacing: 30cm apart |
| Temperate: Jul - Feb | Planting Depth: 3mm |
| Sub Tropical: May to Oct | Harvest: 350 days |
| Tropical: May | Plant Height: 80 cm |
Soil & Site Preparation
Sunlight:
- Zinnias require 4 – 6 hours of full sun daily.
Soil:
- Use a well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 5.5–7.5.
- Amend heavy clay or sandy soils with compost for better texture and nutrients .
Planting Steps
Indoor Start:
- Sow seeds 3 mm deep in seed trays.
- Keep soil moist and provide bright light (e.g., grow lights).
- Transplant seedlings after hardening off, spacing them 30 cm apart.
Direct Sowing:
- Plant seeds 3 mm deep in prepared beds.
- Thin seedlings to 30 cm once they develop 2–3 true leaves.
Care & Maintenance
Watering:
- Water at the base to avoid wetting foliage.
- Keep soil moist but not soggy (overwatering causes root rot) .
Fertilising:
- Optional. Use a balanced fertiliser sparingly if soil is poor.
Deadheading:
- Remove spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering.
Pests/Diseases:
- Watch for powdery mildew (improve airflow) and aphids (use insecticidal soap).
- Young plants are vulnerable; mature zinnias are pest resistant .
Harvesting & Seed Saving
- Cut flowers in the morning when petals are fully open.
- Save seeds by drying brown flower heads in a paper bag.
- Store seeds in a cool, dark place for up to 5 years.
Companion Planting Guide
Best Companion Plants
Herbs:
- Basil repels aphids.
- Dill and Parsley attract hoverflies and parasitic wasps for natural pest control .
Flowers:
- Marigolds deter nematodes, aphids, and beetles with their strong scent.
- Cosmos attracts pollinators with airy blooms and complement zinnias’ height.
- Nasturtiums act as a trap crop for aphids, diverting pests from zinnias.
- Alyssum suppresses weeds and attracts beneficial insects.
Vegetables:
- Tomatoes & Chillies attract pollinators for better fruit set and repel tomato hornworms .
- Cucumbers & Melons lure pollinators and deter thrips.
- Train vines on trellises to avoid shading zinnias.
- Beans fix nitrogen in soil, benefiting zinnias’ blooms.
Other Plants:
- Sunflowers provide structural support for tall zinnias and attract pollinators.
- Dahlias create a butterfly magnet with complementary colours and similar sun needs.
Plants to Avoid:
- Lavender, Rosemary and Thyme prefer dry soils, conflicting with zinnias’ moisture needs.
- Cucurbits (Squash, Cucumbers) are susceptible to powdery mildew; ensure proper spacing for airflow.
Design Tips
Colour Schemes:
- Pair zinnias with contrasting companions like blue salvias.
- In containers add sweet alyssum to provide a living mulch
- In pollinator gardens combine with Rudbeckias for a butterfly friendly space .
Postage Charge
Orders under $30 attract a $4.95 shipping charge. Orders $30 and above have free shipping.
Order Times
Seed orders are normally dispatched within three business days. You will receive an email when seeds are mailed out.
Postage Days
Seeds are mailed out Monday to Friday at 1pm. Except for the Friday of long weekends.
Postage Times
WA 2-3 Days: SA,NT 3-5 Days: NSW, ACT, QLD, VIC: 5-7 Days
Carrier
We use Australia Post Letter Postage for the majority of orders
Not only are our seeds packed in recycled paper envelopes, we keep the theme going when we post out website orders. To protect your seeds from moisture and the letter box munchers (snails), we use a very special plastic free material made from plants. They are then put into recycled mailing envelopes. Green all the way 💚🌿
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