Zinnia State Fair Mix
Zinnia elegans 'State Fair Mix'
These show-stopping zinnias produce enormous 5-6 inch dahlia-like blooms in a spectacular array of colors including pink, red, orange, yellow, and purple. The sturdy 30-inch stems make them exceptional cut flowers that last up to two weeks in arrangements, while their continuous blooming from summer to frost provides non-stop garden color. This award-winning variety attracts butterflies and hummingbirds while being incredibly heat and drought tolerant.
Harvest
75-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Zinnia State Fair Mix in USDA Zone 7
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Zinnia State Fair Mix · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
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 2-3 weeks from April through early June in zone 7, stopping once daytime highs are consistently hitting 90°F — germination gets spotty and unreliable above that threshold. A first sowing around April 1 and a second around May 15 usually gives you a strong early flush and a second wave that carries through early fall.
If you want blooms right up to frost, start one final round of seeds indoors in late June and transplant out in late July. Those plants will hit their stride in September when temperatures back off, and State Fair Mix tends to hold its flowers longer and show sharper color in that cooler late-season window than it does at peak summer.
Complete Growing Guide
These exhibition-class zinnias thrive in full sun with at least six hours of direct light daily, which intensifies their already vibrant bloom colors and prevents the leggy stretching common in shadier conditions. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date, as they need warm soil (75°F+) to germinate reliably, then transplant after all frost danger passes. Their 30-inch stems require staking or support in areas with strong winds, especially given their heavy flower load. Water consistently at the base rather than overhead to minimize powdery mildew, which can plague zinnias in humid regions—ensure good air circulation between plants. Unlike smaller zinnia varieties, State Fair Mix benefits from deadheading the top bud when plants reach 12 inches tall, which encourages branching and maximizes the number of those prized 5-6 inch blooms rather than producing fewer, oversized flowers. They show no significant disease resistance issues beyond standard powdery mildew management, making them reliable performers from mid-summer through fall frost.
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
Harvest State Fair Mix zinnias when the blooms reach their full 5-6 inch diameter and the petals feel firm yet still slightly soft to the touch, indicating peak freshness. Watch for fully opened faces with vibrant, saturated color throughout the petals—avoid harvesting blooms that still show green or tightly closed centers. Rather than a single harvest, these zinnias reward continuous picking; removing spent or mature flowers every two to three days stimulates additional branching and prolongs blooming until frost. Cut stems early in the morning when plants are fully hydrated, selecting those sturdy 30-inch stalks with at least two sets of leaves remaining on the plant to encourage regrowth. This deadheading approach maintains the garden's visual appeal while providing fresh cut flowers for arrangements throughout the season.
Type: Achene.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh-cut State Fair Mix zinnias last 10-14 days when properly handled. Recut stems under running water, remove any foliage below the waterline, and place in clean vases with fresh water plus floral preservative. Change water every 3-4 days and retrim stems.
For dried flowers, harvest blooms when they're just past their prime — slightly firm but fully open. Strip foliage and hang stems upside down in bundles of 5-6 stems in a warm, dry, dark location with good airflow. Properly dried zinnias retain their vibrant colors for 6-12 months. You can also press individual petals between wax paper for craft projects. The edible petals should be used fresh within 24 hours — rinse gently, pat dry, and store in the refrigerator between damp paper towels for garnishing salads or desserts.
History & Origin
The State Fair Mix represents a modern selection within Zinnia elegans, the Mexican zinnia species domesticated centuries ago and refined through generations of garden breeding. While specific breeder attribution and introduction year for this particular cultivar are not well documented in readily available horticultural records, State Fair Mix emerged from the widespread American seed company tradition of creating mixed-color zinnia selections for home gardeners and floral competitions during the late twentieth century. The variety exemplifies the breeding focus on larger dahlia-form flowers and extended bloom seasons that characterized zinnia development from the 1970s onward, positioning it within the lineage of improved garden zinnias that prioritize ornamental impact and cutting value over botanical origin specificity.
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Enormous 5-6 inch dahlia-like blooms in vibrant mixed colors impress any garden
- +Sturdy 30-inch stems produce exceptional cut flowers lasting up to two weeks
- +Continuous blooming from summer to frost ensures non-stop garden color all season
- +Incredibly heat and drought tolerant, requiring minimal water during dry periods
- +Easy to grow with rapid 75-85 day maturity and strong pollinator attraction
Considerations
- -Susceptible to powdery mildew and alternaria blight in humid or wet conditions
- -Multiple pest pressures including aphids, spider mites, and Japanese beetles require management
- -Tall 30-inch stems need staking support in windy locations to prevent damage
Companion Plants
Marigolds and nasturtiums are worth planting along the border for reasons beyond looks — both confuse aphids and deter whiteflies through scent, which takes some pressure off the zinnias during peak summer heat. Cosmos are a natural fit too: they share the same full-sun, moderate-water profile, and the mix of heights (cosmos often hitting 4-5 feet against zinnias at 2-3 feet) creates layered structure that draws a wider range of pollinators into the bed.
Keep zinnias well clear of black walnut (Juglans nigra). The roots and leaf litter release juglone, and even annuals as tough as zinnias can stunt or collapse within the affected zone — which can extend surprisingly far from the trunk. Fennel is a subtler problem: it's broadly allelopathic and tends to suppress neighbors gradually over the course of a season, so give it its own container or a far corner rather than mixing it into a cutting bed.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Basil
Deters aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack zinnias
Cosmos
Attracts beneficial insects and creates complementary flower displays with similar growing requirements
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing pests away from zinnias
Sunflowers
Provide beneficial habitat for pollinators and create attractive height contrast
Tomatoes
Zinnias attract beneficial predatory insects that help control tomato hornworms and other pests
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators
Cleome
Attracts beneficial insects and provides structural diversity in flower beds
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in zinnias
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit zinnia growth and development
Eucalyptus
Produces allelopathic substances that suppress growth of nearby flowering plants
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to alternaria blight and bacterial spot
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, Japanese beetles
Diseases
Powdery mildew, alternaria blight, bacterial wilt
Troubleshooting Zinnia State Fair Mix
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 but days stay hot
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal disease that spreads by airspores, not soil splash, and thrives when humidity fluctuates
- Crowded spacing under 6 inches that traps still air around foliage
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bin the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them
- 2.Thin or cut back adjacent plants so air can move through; 9-12 inches between stems makes a real difference
- 3.Spray foliage with a diluted baking-soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) weekly, or switch to a potassium bicarbonate product if it's spreading fast
Leaves and petals stippled with tiny yellow or bronze flecks, undersides of leaves dusty or faintly webbed, plants looking dull and washed out by midsummer
Likely Causes
- Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) — population explosions happen fast in hot, dry spells above 90°F
- Drought stress weakening the plant's ability to tolerate feeding damage
What to Do
- 1.Blast the undersides of leaves with a strong stream of water three days in a row to knock mites off and disrupt their cycle
- 2.Keep soil consistently moist — stressed zinnias attract mites faster than healthy ones
- 3.Apply insecticidal soap or neem oil directly to leaf undersides in the evening; repeat every 5-7 days until populations drop