Eye candy | Irresistible in the garden or vase
The most colorful candy stripe-type zinnia ever grown, Peppermint Stick Zinnia is an annual offering summer through fall interest, typically blooming until first frost. The plant sets continuous armloads of petal-packed cream and yellow blooms, each merrily striped, splashed, and splotched in shades of scarlet, carmine, rose, purple, orange, and vermilion. No two blooms are quite alike. Borne singly at the end of a branch, the 2-inch, composite, daisylike flowers are a great nectar source and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial pollinators. They make brilliant, long-lasting cuts for bouquets, bright garnishes for salads, and nice dried everlastings. And the more you cut, the more they bloom.
Peppermint Stick, a Zinnia elegans cultivar, also known as common zinnia, is an herbaceous deciduous plant with a dense, bushy, mounding habit of lanceolate leaves and a fast growth rate. Old garden favorites, zinnias are shown to best effect grouped or massed in beds, borders, and patio pots. Peppermint Stick is a perfect choice for a child’s garden—kids love the playful mix of colors and patterns.
Extremely easy to grow from seed, zinnias prefer full sun and rich, organic, well-drained loam or soil, raked to a fine tilth. Although zinnias are low maintenance, pinching young plants promotes a more compact, bushier plant and deadheading spent flowers keeps zinnias blooming. They love heat and are drought tolerant and deer and black walnut resistant.
Direct sow zinnia seed after the last frost date, once the soil has warmed, or start seeds indoors, acclimatize sprouts for 10 to 15 days, and transplant seedlings carefully when they are very young, after all threat of frost has passed. Good air circulation is vital for best performance, so provide generous spacing. Succession planting every week or so for several weeks extends the flowering period.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
(P)Pkt of 50 seeds
Genus:Zinnia
Species:elegans
Variety:Peppermint Stick
Item Form:(P)?Pkt of 50 seeds
Bloom Start to End:Early Summer – Late Summer
Habit:Upright
Seeds Per Pack:50
Plant Height:24 in – 3 ft
Plant Width:8 in – 10 in
Bloom Size:2 in
Additional Characteristics:Flower
Bloom Color:Multi-Color
Light Requirements:Full Sun
Moisture Requirements:Moist,? well-drained
Soil Tolerance:Normal,? loamy
Uses:Cut Flowers,?Ornamental,?Outdoor
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