Wanting two seasons of spring-summer color, heat and drought tolerant, and no disease or pest problems? You should be planting Profusion and Zahara zinnias, also called “star zinnias”. They are very resistant to powdery mildew, a disease which plagues many kinds of zinnias.

Profusion and Zahara zinnias bloom non-stop for almost 6 months (mid-May thru October) in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) before losing out to a November freeze. My favorites in the Profusion series are Apricot, Orange and Cherry. White, Yellow, Fire and Double Cherry Red are also available.

Zahara bears flowers 20% larger than the Profusion series. Zahara zinnias come in a wide range of colors, from white to scarlet. ‘Starlight Rose’ (photo) features white petals splashed with bright red around its floral button center. ‘Double Cherry’ (deep magenta) and ‘Double Fire’ (scarlet orange) are double flowered cultivars.

Flower sizes range from 2 to 3 inches in diameter. The colorful daisy-like blooms will attract numerous butterflies to your garden. Flowers are self-cleaning, requiring very little deadheading. Plants grow compact and well-branched at 18 to 20 inches high and wide. Plants should be spaced 8 to 10 inches apart in flower garden beds or in containers.

Star zinnias perform best in the full sun with good fertility. Add 2 to 3 inches of mulch to improve soil organic matter and to reduce soil moisture loss. Irrigate during extreme dry spells to maintain plant health, vigor, and flower numbers. At spring planting, feed with a slow-release fertilizer. Supplement nutrition with a water-soluble fertilizer (such as Miracle-Gro®, Schultz®, or Hollytone®) every 2-3 weeks during the summer period.