Flower
Zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Heat-loving cut flower in every colour — keeps producing if you pick.
Full sun
Moderate
Well-drained
Easy
Yes
Ornamental
Annual
Half-hardy
5 L
20 cm
Situations where this plant is a reliable fit — from someone's kitchen sill to a wind-blown rooftop.
Balcony
A few pots on a flat outdoor perch — some sun, some wind.
Ladder planter
A tilted step-ladder with a shallow tray on each rung — sun-facing, five tiers of herbs, salad and strawberries in the footprint of one pot.
Raised bed
A traditional plot or timber-sided bed — deepest root run, widest planting choice.
10 days
Warm water hold
Focal
Yes
Cut at
'Wiggle test' — wiggle the stem; if it flops, leave it. Cut only firm-necked blooms.
Honest note
The wiggle test prevents disappointing droopy stems.
Where to source
Get growing in United Kingdom
Shop local first
The best plants come from a real nursery, and the best trowel comes from the old-fashioned ironmonger down the road — people who know their stock and can advise. Try local first, both for the plant and the kit. It keeps small growers and small hardware shops alive.
Searching near London
For pots, compost, seed trays, twine and other kit — Amazon has the essentials if the local option isn't right. Not a plant nursery; use the local map above for the plant itself.
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