Do Zinnias Make Good Companion Plants?

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Did you know zinnias make great companion plants? Not only are they easy to grow they provide benefits to other plants making them a versatile addition to any garden.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of planting zinnias alongside other plants in your garden and recommend some of the best zinnia companion plants to consider.

What are companion plants?

Companion plants are plants that are grown together because they provide some kind of benefit to each other.

This could be anything from repelling pests to improving soil quality or providing shade.

Planting zinnias with earlier blooming flowers can keep your garden filled with gorgeous colors all season long. This is also known as succession planting.

By selecting the right companion plants, you can create a healthy, thriving garden ecosystem that is less susceptible to disease and pests.

This can make your gardening life so much easier.

Why are zinnias good companion plants?

Zinnias have several attractive qualities that make them great companion plants.

First, they are so easy to grow and maintain that even beginners can be successful in planting a mass of zinnias successfully.

Secondly, they attract pollinators like bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies, which can help to increase the yield of nearby plants.

Third, Zinnias have a shallow root system, which means they won’t compete with other plants for nutrients and water.

Some suggested zinnias to grow in a pollinator garden include: Zahara, Benary’s Giant (one of my favorites), Tall State Fair, California Giant, Cut and Come Again, and Lilliput.

It is claimed that zinnias can repel whiteflies but not many other bugs. Though zinnias don’t repel many bad bugs (in fact Japanese Beetles love zinnias) they do attract beneficial insects and can act as a sacrificial plant to draw the bad bugs away from other plants.

This means that planting zinnias alongside other plants can help protect them from some common garden pests.

They are considered deer resistant but as we all know when deer are hungry enough they will eat anything!

What to Plant with Zinnias

Now that we’ve explored why zinnias make great companion plants, let’s take a look at some of the best plants to pair with zinnias in your garden to enhance their benefits:

1. Marigolds: Marigolds are another excellent companion plant that can help repel harmful pests and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies. They also have a deep taproot that can help improve soil quality.
2. Nasturtiums: Nasturtiums are a great choice for planting alongside zinnias because they have a sprawling growth habit that can provide shade and ground cover. They also attract aphids away from other plants, making them an effective natural pest control solution.
3. Cosmos: Cosmos are another attractive annual that can be planted alongside zinnias to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. They also have a fibrous root system that can help improve soil quality and prevent erosion.
4. Salvia: Salvia is a perennial plant that makes a great companion for zinnias because it attracts pollinators and repels harmful pests like aphids and whiteflies. It also has a deep taproot that can help improve soil quality.
5. Verbena: Verbena is another attractive annual that can be planted alongside zinnias to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. It also has a sprawling growth habit that can provide ground cover and shade for other plants.

In conclusion, zinnias are not only beautiful flowers, but they also make excellent companion plants.

By planting zinnias alongside other plants in your garden, you can attract pollinators, repel some harmful pests, and create a thriving garden ecosystem.

If you haven’t grown zinnias before why not give them a try this season? You’ll be glad you did.

Also, did you know they are great in the veggie garden too?

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