Zinnia Uproar Rose Hybrid

These blooms measure 4 to 5 inches wide and more than an inch high, packed with zingy magenta-rose petals and sporting a merry little yellow "crown" at the center. If a more perfectly-shaped Zinnia has ever been grown, I've not seen it -- you'll be amazed as these plants pop out bloom after bloom, all equally petal-packed and nicely shaped.

Uproar Rose may remind you a bit of Zinnia Magellan, a bedding (smaller) variety known for its perfect blooms. Well, Uproar Rose takes that perfection of form to new heights -- literally! It's 30 to 36 inches tall and 2 feet or more wide, with such good branching that you get more buds than you'll believe possible. As with all Zinnias, Uproar Rose is cut-and-come-again, so be sure to pick all you like for the vase, and deadhead the old blooms to encourage new buds. What a show!

Zinnias are one of the easiest annuals to grow, and attract butterflies to the garden. They are outstanding in beds, borders, and containers, are 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 well-drained soil. Their biggest enemy is mildew, so water them with a soaker hose or other ground-based spray to minimize wetting the foliage--or, if this isn't possible, water them early in the day, so that the leaves can dry off before nightfall. 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 last well after cutting. Zinnia is a lovely companion to other summer bloomers in the vase; it has sturdy stems that help it keep its upright posture over a long period. Simply put, this is one of the easiest and most rewarding annuals to grow from seed! Enjoy! Pkt is 15 seeds.