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Some years are better than others for tall zinnias, at least in my partial-shade backyard. If it’s humid or if there’s a lot of rain, my plants are quick to develop powdery mildew. It doesn’t knock the plants out completely, but it definitely slows them down. Meanwhile they are continually munched on by Japanese Beetles.
Last summer was a spectacular year for zinnias. The beetle numbers were the lowest they’ve been since the pests arrived, and the weather was dry and mild. Here are some of my Benary’s zinnias in bloom:
‘Benary’s Coral’ is always eye-catching:
But for years now my favorite tall zinnia has been the delicious, almost-blackish-red ‘Benary’s Deep Red’:
