Calendula : Zinnia - Envy

Many Bright 2-3" Blooms

No need to look jealously upon this magnificent lime-toned Zinnia -- it is as easy to grow as its common-colored cousins, and even prefers a bit of shade for a deeper green hue! Your garden will gleam and your indoor arrangements delight with this utterly unique flower! The blooms measure 2 inches across and have a super-packed, semi-double form that holds up well in garden or vase. They arise at the end of long stems on plants that reach 30 inches tall and about a foot wide -- a mid-size for a Zinnia, neither too dwarf nor sprawling. The flowers begin as soon as the weather heats up in summer, and continue all season long, with new buds arising as you cut the first flush of blooms! This zingy green will reach its deepest lime-y tone if given partial shade, particularly in climates where summers are quite hot. If you prefer a more yellow-toned chartreuse, full sun is best. Either way, you will find these blooms distinctively different -- terrific alongside strong whites, reds, and blacks. I like the contrast in both color and form of Envy and Lupine, and a bouquet dotted with the dramatic black-and-white Poppy White Cloud is unforgettable. In the partly-shaded garden, try planting Zinnia Envy alongside the black-leaved heirloom Coleus Palisandra! The possibilities are endless! Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow, and attract butterflies to the garden. They are outstanding in beds, borders, and containers, are are the perfect cut flower--the more you cut, the more you get! They thrive in the sun and heat of summer, and ask only well-drained soil. Their biggest enemy is mildew, so water them with a soaker hose or other ground-based spray to minimize wetting the foliage--or, if this isn't possible, water them early in the day, so that the leaves can dry off before nightfall. Space the plants generously to prevent overcrowding. When cutting the blooms for the vase, trim off all the foliage; unlike the blooms, it does not last well after cutting. Zinnia is a lovely companion to other summer bloomers in the vase; it has sturdy stems that help it keep its upright posture over a long period. Simply put, this is one of the easiest and most rewarding annuals to grow from seed!