Profusion Orange Zinnia Seeds

All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 1999

When we grew this zinnia in our trial gardens here at Park Seed, the "oohs" and "aahs" were deafening. And no wonder—Profusion Orange (and its scarlet sister, Cherry) won the AAS Gold Medal Flower Award—the first flowers to receive this prestigious award in a decade. Without a doubt, the Profusion series has changed the face of landscaping zinnias forever . . . thank goodness.

These bushy plants, 14 to 18 inches high and 20 to 24 inches wide, are simply smothered nonstop all season with cheerful, 2-inch daisy-formed blooms of vivid orange. Ideal for mass plantings or containers. What's more, Profusion is highly tolerant of mildew and other foliage diseases, and laughs at heat, humidity, and drought. We are proud to give Profusion our highest recommendation for garden-worthiness. And now there are 2 new and exciting colors in the family: unusual coral-colored Apricot and bold, two-toned Fire.

Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow, and attract butterflies to the garden. They 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 for well-drained soil. 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 age well. Direct sow or start ahead indoors.