Heirloom

Zinderella Peach

Zinnia elegans

a figurine of a girl in a field of purple flowers

Wikimedia Commons via Zinnia elegans

Harvest

75-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Zinderella Peach in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Zinderella Peach · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorSalmon with cream-to-rose petals and dark eye

Size2-2 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Direct sow every 2 to 3 weeks from your last frost date through early July, stopping once daytime highs are consistently above 90°F — germination drops off sharply in that heat and the seedlings stall. In zone 7, that window runs roughly April through late June. Starting indoors in February or March gives you a 6-to-8-week head start; zinnias transplant without much fuss, just don't let them get rootbound in the cell tray before they go out.

For cut flower production, staggered sowings every 14 days will keep stems coming in waves rather than all at once. Pinch the first bud on each young plant — counterintuitive, but it forces branching and you'll get 4 to 6 harvestable stems where you'd have had one.

Complete Growing Guide

2-2 1/2" fully double, semidouble, and approximately 20% single flowers. Unique salmon color with cream-to-rose petals and a distinct dark eye. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Zinderella Peach is 75 - 90 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Zinderella Peach reaches harvest at 75 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2-2 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Type: Achene.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Zinderella Peach flowers should be stored in a cool location with moderate humidity—a refrigerator at 35-40°F is ideal for extending vase life to 7-10 days. Keep stems in fresh water and change water every 2-3 days. For preservation, air-dry blooms by hanging upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks, creating long-lasting dried arrangements. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under heavy books for 1-2 weeks to create flat specimens suitable for crafts or framing. Silica gel drying is another option, preserving color better than air-drying—simply bury flowers in silica gel for 5-7 days for vibrant dried blooms.

History & Origin

Zinderella Peach is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Mexico

Advantages

+Unique salmon-cream color with dark eye distinguishes it from typical zinnias
+Cut-and-come-again habit provides multiple harvests throughout the growing season
+Fully double flowers create full, showy blooms ideal for arrangements
+Easy to grow makes it suitable for beginner gardeners and children
+2-2.5 inch blooms are perfectly sized for mixed bouquets and containers

Considerations

-Mix includes single flowers reducing consistency in fully double bloom percentage
-75-90 day maturity requires patience before enjoying peak flowering period
-Salmon color may fade in intense heat or direct afternoon sun
-Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid climates without good air circulation

Companion Plants

Marigolds (especially Tagetes patula) and sweet alyssum do the most work here. Tagetes patula repels aphids and whiteflies through scent and pulls in the same pollinators that keep zinnia blooms coming strong through the season. Sweet alyssum draws parasitic wasps that hunt the caterpillars and Frankliniella occidentalis thrips responsible for deformed buds — a real problem on peach-toned varieties where petal damage shows clearly. Keep fennel on the other side of the garden entirely; it produces anethole, a volatile compound documented to suppress growth in neighboring plants, and zinnias don't need that competition.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deterring them from zinnias

Cosmos

Similar growing conditions and attracts pollinators without competing for resources

Basil

Repels thrips, aphids, and mosquitoes while attracting beneficial pollinators

Lavender

Deters pests with strong scent and attracts beneficial insects like bees

Sunflowers

Provide beneficial shade and attract pollinators, similar water needs

Cleome

Attracts beneficial insects and has similar growing requirements

Keep Apart

Fennel

Allelopathic properties inhibit growth of nearby flowering plants

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive plants

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that suppress growth of nearby plants

Troubleshooting Zinderella Peach

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer as nights cool slightly

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — fungal, thrives when humidity is high but leaves stay dry
Poor airflow from crowded spacing

What to Do

1.Pull the worst-affected stems out entirely — they won't recover and they spread spores
2.Space remaining plants so air moves between them; 12 inches minimum
3.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per gallon) every 7 days if you catch it early

Flower petals with irregular tan or brown streaks, buds that fail to open or open deformed

Likely Causes

Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) — tiny, hide inside flower heads
Tomato spotted wilt virus, which thrips transmit

What to Do

1.Hold a white sheet of paper under a bloom and tap it — thrips will fall onto it and you'll see them
2.Remove and bag heavily infested flowers; don't compost them
3.Plant sweet alyssum within 2 to 3 feet of your zinnias to draw in Orius (minute pirate bugs), which feed on thrips

Seedlings collapsing at soil level, stem pinched and brown at the base, happening within the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off — caused by soil-borne pathogens including Pythium and Rhizoctonia — almost always triggered by overwatering or poor drainage

What to Do

1.Don't water again until the top half-inch of the germination mix is dry
2.Use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil from outside
3.Run a small fan on low for 30 minutes a day to dry the surface and toughen stems

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Zinderella Peach flowers last in a vase?▼

With proper care, Zinderella Peach flowers typically last 7-10 days in a vase when kept in a cool location with fresh water changed every 2-3 days. The exact lifespan depends on room temperature and humidity—cooler conditions extend vase life. As a cut-and-come-again variety, deadheading spent blooms encourages continuous flowering throughout the season.

Is Zinderella Peach a good flower for beginners to grow?▼

Yes, absolutely. Zinderella Peach is classified as an easy-to-grow heirloom variety, making it perfect for beginners. It requires full sun (6+ hours daily) and well-drained soil, thriving in most garden conditions. Its cut-and-come-again nature means more flowers with minimal effort—simply harvest blooms regularly and the plant produces more throughout the season.

Can you grow Zinderella Peach flowers in containers?▼

Yes, Zinderella Peach can be grown in containers if provided with adequate space and drainage. Use a quality potting mix and a container at least 10-12 inches deep. Ensure the container receives 6+ hours of full sun daily. Container-grown plants may require more frequent watering than in-ground plantings but benefit from easy access for harvesting and enjoying blooms.

When should I plant Zinderella Peach seeds?▼

Plant Zinderella Peach seeds after the last frost date in spring. Seeds typically germinate within 7-14 days in warm soil. For earlier blooms, start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost and transplant seedlings outdoors once frost danger passes. You can expect flowers within 75-90 days from planting, making mid-season to late-season blooms possible depending on your planting date.

What colors do Zinderella Peach flowers come in?▼

Zinderella Peach flowers showcase a unique salmon color with cream-to-rose petals and a distinct dark eye. The variety produces fully double, semidouble, and approximately 20% single flowers, creating beautiful variation in flower form. This striking color combination makes the blooms excellent for cut arrangements and garden displays.

How often should I harvest Zinderella Peach flowers?▼

Harvest Zinderella Peach flowers regularly—ideally every few days once blooming begins. This cut-and-come-again variety produces more flowers when you remove spent blooms, encouraging continuous production throughout the season. Cut flowers in the early morning for the longest vase life, and always cut just above a leaf node to promote branching.