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Zahara® Starlight Rose Zinnia Seeds

Zahara® Starlight Rose Zinnia Seeds

So tolerant of heat, humidity, and drought, it was planted at the Beijing Olympics

8 Reviews — Write a Review
(P) Pkt of 25 seeds
Item # 51991-PK-P1
Instock - allow 3-5 business days for processing prior to shipment.
$3.95
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AAS Winner 2010

Here it is, the bedding zinnia of our dreams. The Zahara series introduced in 2009 immediately became famous for its resistance to mildew and leaf spot, its nonstop blooms, and its larger flower size. Now the newest and best color, Starlight Rose, has won All-America Selections award.

These blooms are fully 2½ inches wide, and there's more of them—they pop up all over super compact plants, drawing bees and butterflies into the garden and absolutely wowing those hot, dry beds and water-starved containers. Single-flowered, they offer pure white petals with a hot-rose halo at the center. And as the summer sun warms them each day, the rosy shade grows deeper and more intense.

Renowned for its ability to withstand heat, humidity, drought, and just about anything else, Zahara Starlight Rose is the first bicolor bedding zinnia that can truly claim to be disease resistant. Mildew is a traditional enemy of the zinnia, but Zahara's got it licked. (Or should we say "dried".) Luckily, it's also very long-blooming, prepared to continue well into autumn as long as the hot weather holds. What a joy.

This is the annual you'll want along that baking-hot driveway or cement path, crowding against the house (whose walls reflect heat), and beautifying the patio (which never gets watered often enough). Just 12 to 18 inches high and wide, it can be planted a bit more closely than other bedding zinnias, again thanks to the mildew resistance. No need to worry about the foliage "touching".

Direct sow the seeds. When the soil has already warmed and spring is well underway, this plant will flower within 5 to 6 weeks of sowing. But if you want to get an earlier start, or if that hot April turns into a chilly May, no fear—Zahara Starlight Rose will grow vigorously all the same, and simply wait for the warm weather before blooming. Why can't all plants be this cooperative?

Zahara Starlight Rose was awarded an All-America Selections for garden-worthiness, and you will soon see why. Ease of growth and minimal care are key to the AAS judges, so you can always rely on an AAS winner to outperform most others, and with little effort on your part.

Review Summary
(Based on 8 Reviews)

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Reviews

Perfect for sunny border
Pete from NY wrote on February 14, 2020

Planted along the edge of a patio that gets 8 or 9 hours of sun with reflected heat from bluestone and a nearby asphalt.driveway. I tried to water regularly during dry spells in Upstate NY but even when I missed they thrived and grew bushier. Only drawback was that by the end of the season the blooms grew so heavy that they were leaning over, but that was only in the last few weeks of the season.

What a performance!
Digginit from NY wrote on August 13, 2019

I have a new favorite! These cheerful blooms are still a standout in August. Germination rate was nearly 100 percent and they are perfect flying solo in containers or complimenting almost anything. Great cut flower. Love them.

Loves the heat
Susan from MI wrote on August 28, 2018

I've used this one for years along my sidewalk and driveway because it's one of the few that can really take the heat and the deer do not touch it. It's beautiful and drought tolerant and so easy to grow

Very pretty
Flow3rs from NE wrote on July 22, 2018

Likes: Lots of blooms, very pretty. Dislikes: no pink on them, just white. But i still like them. Mine came out probably a foot tall.. which was very surprising.. more like a dwarf size.. but still very pretty :)

Great in the heat!
The K's from NC wrote on April 22, 2013

I was very pleasantly surprised how well these zinnias performed in our hot/dry garden last year. Once established, they were prolific and hardy. They were one of the best flowering performers in our garden.I will try these again this year.

Read All 8 Reviews

Zinnia Germination Information

Zinnia is the botanical name for Zinnia
Zinnia Seed Germination How to Sow Zinnia:
  • Best sown indoors, 4 weeks before last frost, at a temperature of 70-75°
  • Germination will occur in 5-7 days
  • They can also be sown outdoors, after all danger of frost is past in the spring
  • When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed

How to Grow Zinnia:
Transplanting: Transplant when there are at least two sets of true leaves

Spacing: Space 6-12 inches apart in a rich, fertile, well-drained soil

Temperature: Grow on in full sun at 60-65° days/55-60° nights

Additional Care:  Feed monthly with a balanced fertilizer. They are very tolerant of heat and drought. Water zinnias at ground level, rather than with overhead irrigation. Deadhead to prolong the flower display

Appearance and Use:

These are festive and vigorous plants for use in borders, bedding, edging, containers, and as a fresh cut flower. They will be covered in flowers from summer to frost. Zinnia elegans, Common Zinnia, grows 6-40 inches tall and has broad ovate, 1-4 inch long by 1-2 inch wide leaves. The 1-7 inch diameter flowers come in colors of pink, rose, cherry, lavender, purple, red, orange, salmon, gold, yellow, cream, or light green. Color patterns are solid, zoned, or multi-colored, petal arrangement is either single or double, and flower heads are often chrysanthemum-, dahlia-, or cactus-like. Zinnia haageana, Mexican Zinnia, grows 12-18 inches tall and has narrow 1-2 inch long by 1/2 inch wide leaves. The 1-21/2 inch flowers are red, mahogany, yellow, or orange. Color patterns are solid or two-toned and petal arrangement is either single or double. Zinnia angustifolia (Z. linearis), Narrow-leaf Zinnia, grows 12 inches tall and has narrow, 1-2 inch long by 1/2 inch wide leaves. The 1 inch diameter flowers are golden-orange with yellow stripes and are single in petal arrangement


About Zinnia:
Pronunciation:  zin’e-å
Lifecycle:  Annual
Origination: Asteraceae; native to Mexico
Common Name: Zinnia

Superior Germination Through Superior Science

Park's Superior Seeds Park Seed's humidity- and temperature-controlled seed storage vault Park Seed offers some of the highest-quality vegetable and flower seeds available in the industry, and there are a number of reasons for this.

First of all, we have humidity- and temperature-controlled storage, and we never treat any of our seeds with chemicals or pesticides. Nor do we ever sell GMO's (genetically modified seeds), so you always know the products you're buying from us are natural as well as safe for you and the environment.

Superior Standards - University Inspected

Testing seeds against minimum germination standards To make sure we are providing the best seed product possible and that our customers will get the highest number of seedlings from every packet, we conduct our own germination testing and have quality-control measures in every stage of our seed-handling operation. We hold ourselves to standards that are at or above federal and state standards, including testing specific crops more frequently than recommended by federal guidelines. And in order to maintain our organic certification, we welcome Clemson University to inspect us annually to make sure our organic seeds, which are stored and processed separately, are being handled properly.

Hand Packed By Experienced Technicians

Park Seed has been handling and packing vegetable and flower seeds for 145 years, a history that has given us a great understanding of how each variety should be cared for and maintained throughout every step of theprocess, from collection to shipping.

When packing our seeds, the majority are actually done by hand (with extreme care!), and we often over-pack them, so you're receiving more than the stated quantity.

The Park Seed Gold Standard

Park Seed's exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil seed packets And many of our seeds are packed in our exclusive Fresh-Pak gold foil packets, which are lined to keep moisture out, so the seeds stay fresher for longer. We carefully pack very tiny or fragile seeds in crush-proof vials to ensure safe delivery to your home. Some of the small seeds are also offered as "pellets" (have a clay coating) to make sowing and growing easier.

When it comes to the kinds of seeds we offer, we are constantly seeking something new and provide many unique and hard-to-find varieties from all around the world. Our on-staff horticulturists are ready and available to share their expertise to help you with the success of these seeds, so you can grow a beautiful and productive garden!
Does Park sell GMO's or treated seeds?
GMO freeIt is important for our customers to know that Park Seed does not sell GMO or treated seed.

What are the differences between organic, heirloom, and hybrid seed?
Basically, organic seeds are seeds that are produced without the use and exposure to artificial/chemical fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other chemicals. They have to be grown, harvested, stored, and handled under very strict organic rules and procedures. All of our organic seeds are USDA 100% certified organic through Clemson University and the certificate has to be renewed yearly.

Heirloom Seeds are open-pollinated -- they are not hybrids. You can gather and save heirloom seed from year to year and they will grow true to type every year, so they can be passed down through generations. To be considered an heirloom, a variety would have to be at least from the 1940's and 3 generations old (many varieties are much older -- some 100 years or more!).

Hybrid seed are the product of cross-pollination between 2 different parent plants, resulting in a new plant/seed that is different from the parents. Unlike Heirloom seed, hybrid seed need to be re-purchased new every year (and not saved). They usually will not grow true to type if you save them, but will revert to one of the parents they were crossed with and most likely look/taste different in some way.

What are pelleted seeds? Why do you use them? How do I handle/sow them?
Pelleted pentas seedsExtremely small seed such as Petunias and Pentas are shipped as pelleted seed to make them easier to handle and sow. Pelleted seed are coated, usually with clay, to make them larger in size. After sowing, the coating will dissolve when wet and the seed will germinate. Pelleted seeds are shipped in vials placed inside seed packets, which protects them from being crushed. When sowing, be certain to use thoroughly moistened soil, to be sure that the clay coating absorbs enough moisture to dissolve. For sowing pelleted Petunia seeds, place the seeds directly on the soil surface and do not cover with soil, as light aids in the germination.

What is ideal temperature to germinate most seeds?
The ideal temperature to germinate most seeds is approximately 70 degrees F; give or take 1-2 degrees either way. This would be a good germination temperature for most flower and vegetable seeds and would be the most practical and feasible temperatures achieved for gardeners starting seeds in the home. You will notice for some seeds that it is recommended to use alternating day (warmer), night (cooler), temperatures, which is fine if one can provide such conditions. But most people are unable to provide those temperatures in a home setting, so just use the overall 70 degree F recommendation and the seeds should germinate well.

How long should grow lights be kept on per day and how close to the plants should the light be kept?
For germination and seedling/plant growth, you want to simulate the natural day-night cycles, and as a general rule, grow lights should be on 8-12 hours per day and off at night. You can vary this timing, as some seeds such as tomato, pepper, petunia, impatiens, and others, benefit from 14-17 hours of light per day (and the remainder of the 24 hour period in darkness). The most common grow lights used are fluorescent; using cool white, warm white, and wide-spectrum fluorescent tubes. These lights work well for germination and for growing plants up to a transplantable size. Fluorescent lights should be kept close though, 3-6 inches above the soil or the growing plants, adjusting the height as the plants grow.

How long will seeds keep in storage?
Park Seed stores seed in a special temperature- and humidity-controlled storage facility, which keeps seeds in excellent condition. Our seeds should be good for at least 1-2 years on average. Seed viability and storage time will vary depending on the seed item; some will keep a shorter time and some will keep longer. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place. A basement will do (if not too humid), or a cool, dark room or closet. We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store them in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What is the best way to store seeds over a longer time period?
We recommend the best way to extend seed storage life is to store seeds in something air tight, such as a plastic zipper storage bag or canning jar, and place it in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of seeds for many years.

What depth should I sow various seeds?
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed. When sowing seed indoors, the planting depth can be less, depending on the seed being sown, so it is always best to check specific directions. Here are some general guidelines concerning planting depth in relation to seed size: Tiny, dust-like seeds need to be sown on the surface of the growing medium or soil, uncovered, as they need light to germinate. The planting depth for small seed can be anywhere from barely covering, to 1/8-inch deep, to possibly 1/4-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Medium seed should be planted at 1/4- to 1/2-inch deep, depending on the recommendation. Larger seeds can be planted 1-inch or deeper, depending on the recommendation.