Ballerina
Zinnia elegans
Photo: Theatrical Artwork by Laura Fiorucci. Picture by Wilfredor · Wikimedia Commons · (CC0)
Who wouldn't want a beautiful pale pink zinnia? In 2018, Johnny's Breeding Team began work selecting for the pastel color palette. Ballerina's 4-6" flowers are a blend of soft pink and pale peach, with a mix of both dahlia- and cactus-type blooms. Produces a high percentage of double blooms. May contain a few off-types of ivory, dark pink, or yellow.
Harvest
75-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Ballerina in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Ballerina · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Succession Planting
Direct sow Ballerina zinnia every 2–3 weeks from your last frost date through early June in zone 7 (roughly April 1 through June 10). Each sowing pushes out a fresh flush of blooms about 75–85 days out, so staggering keeps the cutting garden producing through summer. Stop sowing once daytime highs are consistently above 90°F — germination drops off sharply in heat, and seedlings started in July tend to stall rather than size up. A late-May sowing will carry you into the first cool weeks of fall before frost ends the run.
Complete Growing Guide
Ballerina zinnias reward you for giving them heat, sun, and airflow. Choose a site that receives at least six hours of direct sun — eight is better — and avoid spots where airflow stagnates, since zinnias are prone to powdery mildew when leaves stay damp. Work two to three inches of finished compost into the top six inches of soil before planting. Zinnias aren't heavy feeders, but they appreciate a moderately fertile, well-drained bed with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5.
You can direct sow Ballerina once soil temperatures reach 70°F and all danger of frost has passed — typically two weeks after your last frost date. For earlier blooms, start seeds indoors four to six weeks before transplanting. Sow ¼ inch deep; germination takes 5-10 days at 70-75°F. Don't start too early indoors — zinnias resent being rootbound and sulk after transplant if held too long in cells.
Space plants 9-12 inches apart for cut-flower production (closer spacing encourages longer, straighter stems) or 12-18 inches for landscape use. When seedlings reach 8-12 inches tall, pinch the central stem just above a leaf pair. This single step is the most important thing you can do — it forces the plant to branch from the base, dramatically increasing stem count and yield over the season.
Water deeply at the base of the plant once a week, providing about an inch of water. Avoid overhead watering, which spreads mildew and bacterial leaf spot. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are ideal. Mulch with two inches of straw or shredded leaves to conserve moisture and keep soil from splashing onto lower foliage.
Feed lightly: a balanced organic fertilizer at planting and a midseason side-dressing of compost is plenty. Excess nitrogen produces lush foliage at the expense of blooms and weakens stems. In zones 7 and warmer, expect continuous bloom from midsummer through first frost. In cooler zones (3-6), succession sow every two to three weeks until midsummer to keep fresh blooms coming.
For cut-flower beds, install a single layer of horizontal netting (Hortonova or similar) at 12 inches tall when plants are 6 inches high. The plants grow up through the grid and support themselves, eliminating the need for individual staking. Common mistakes to avoid: planting too early in cold soil (seeds rot), overhead watering, skipping the pinch, and overcrowding without airflow. Deadhead spent blooms religiously — once a zinnia sets seed, it slows flower production noticeably.
Harvesting
Harvest Ballerina zinnias in the cool of early morning, before plants experience heat stress. The single most reliable test for zinnia readiness is the wiggle test: grasp the stem 8 inches below the bloom and gently shake. If the stem is floppy and the flower head bobs, it's immature and won't hold up in a vase. If the stem is stiff and rigid, it's ready to cut. Don't rely on bloom appearance alone — zinnias open early but their stems harden later.
Use sharp, clean snips and cut deep into the plant, taking 12-18 inch stems. Cutting deep encourages longer replacement stems; cutting short trains the plant to produce shorter blooms. Strip all foliage that would sit below the waterline, since zinnia leaves foul vase water quickly. Place stems immediately in a clean bucket of cool water with floral preservative. The more you cut, the more Ballerina blooms — expect to harvest from a single plant for 8-10 weeks.
Storage & Preservation
Once cut and properly conditioned, Ballerina zinnias last 7-10 days in a vase with clean water and floral preservative. Recut stems every two to three days and refresh the water to maximize vase life. Zinnias do not tolerate cold storage well — keep arrangements at room temperature (65-72°F) rather than refrigerating, as temperatures below 40°F cause petal browning and collapse.
For preservation, zinnias dry beautifully using silica gel, which retains the pastel pink and peach tones better than air drying. Bury blooms face-up in silica for 4-7 days. Pressing also works well for the dahlia-form blooms, producing flat keepsakes for cards and resin work. Save seed by letting a few late-season blooms fully dry on the plant; collect seed heads when brown and brittle, though saved seed will not come true to the Ballerina pastel palette.
History & Origin
Zinnias originated in the grasslands of Mexico and the southwestern United States, where Zinnia elegans grows wild. Spanish explorers introduced the plant to Europe in the 1700s, where botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn gave the genus its name. Modern garden zinnias are largely the result of 19th and 20th century selection work that produced the dahlia-flowered, cactus-flowered, and giant forms popular today.
Ballerina is a contemporary selection developed by the Johnny's Selected Seeds Breeding Team in Albion, Maine. The team began breeding work in 2018 with a clear goal: expand the pastel color palette available to cut-flower growers, who were increasingly demanding soft, wedding-friendly tones over the saturated reds, oranges, and magentas that dominated zinnia genetics. Ballerina was selected for its distinctive blend of pale pink and peach tones, its mix of dahlia and cactus bloom forms on the same plant, and its high percentage of fully double flowers. While not a true heirloom in the historical sense, it represents a modern open-pollinated selection bred for the booming small-farm cut-flower market.
Advantages
- +Rare pastel pink-peach color palette prized by wedding and event florists
- +Produces both dahlia-form and cactus-form blooms on the same plant for visual variety
- +Very high percentage of fully double flowers
- +Long 8-10 week harvest window with regular cutting
- +Easy to grow from direct-sown seed with no special requirements
- +Strong, cuttable stems suitable for market bouquets
- +Heat and drought tolerant once established
Considerations
- -Open-pollinated selection produces some off-type blooms in ivory, dark pink, or yellow
- -Highly susceptible to powdery mildew in humid climates or with overhead watering
- -Pastel tones can fade in extreme heat or full afternoon sun in southern zones
- -Does not tolerate cold storage — limits commercial shipping options
- -Saved seed will not come true to the pastel palette
Companion Plants
Marigolds and sweet alyssum do real work here — marigolds push back on aphids through foliar and root chemical compounds, while alyssum draws parasitic wasps that cut aphid pressure without any input from you. Nasturtiums act as a trap crop, pulling aphids onto themselves so the zinnias stay cleaner. Keep fennel well away; its root secretions stunt nearby annuals, and you'll see the check in zinnia growth within a season. Black walnut is a harder problem — juglone moves through the soil and will kill or severely set back most annual flowers planted within its root zone.
Plant Together
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests naturally
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides ground cover
Lavender
Deters pests with fragrance and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies
Catmint
Repels aphids, ants, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting nearby plants
Zinnia
Attracts beneficial insects and butterflies, shares similar growing conditions
Cosmos
Attracts beneficial predatory insects and provides complementary bloom timing
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowering plants
Eucalyptus
Produces allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, Japanese beetles, spider mites, cucumber beetles
Diseases
Powdery mildew, bacterial leaf spot, alternaria blight, botrytis
Troubleshooting Ballerina
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually showing up mid-summer when nights cool down
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — airborne spores thrive when humidity is high but leaf surfaces are dry
- Crowded spacing under 9 inches that chokes airflow between plants
What to Do
- 1.Cut out the worst-affected stems and bin them — don't compost
- 2.Thin or space plants to at least 9–12 inches so air can move through
- 3.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) every 7–10 days as a mild deterrent
Ragged holes chewed in petals and leaves, or entire flower heads partially eaten, appearing overnight or during the day in clusters
Likely Causes
- Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — they gather on blooms in groups and feed in the heat of the day
- Cucumber beetles (Acalymma vittatum or Diabrotica undecimpunctata) — smaller, striped or spotted, also target flowers
What to Do
- 1.Handpick Japanese beetles in the early morning when they're sluggish and drop them into soapy water
- 2.For heavy pressure, apply pyrethrin spray directly to affected plants — it breaks down quickly and won't linger in the soil
- 3.Avoid Japanese beetle traps near the zinnia bed; they draw more beetles in than they catch
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Ballerina zinnia take to bloom?▼
Is Ballerina zinnia good for beginners?▼
Can you grow Ballerina zinnia in containers?▼
When should I plant Ballerina zinnia seeds?▼
Why are my Ballerina zinnias not all pink?▼
How do I prevent powdery mildew on Ballerina zinnias?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.