Zinnia Elgans – Meteor – 50 seeds

Ah, now there’s a proper old-fashioned flower if ever there was one.

Zinnia ‘Meteor’ is the sort of bloom that brings a border to life just when many other flowers begin to tire. A sturdy annual of cheerful disposition, it bears generous, fully double blossoms of the richest scarlet-crimson, glowing like little embers amongst the green. On a warm summer’s afternoon, they fairly seem to catch the sunlight.

You’ll find it happiest in a sunny, open position with good, well-drained soil. Like many plants that revel in the heat, it dislikes cold, wet feet and resents being fussed over. Sow the seed once the danger of frost has passed, and before long you’ll have strong, upright plants that ask for little more than the occasional watering in a dry spell.

A sensible gardener will make a habit of removing the spent blooms, for Zinnia ‘Meteor’ is wonderfully obliging and will continue producing flower after flower until the first autumn frosts finally bring the season to a close. The more you cut, the more it seems determined to bloom.

And what splendid flowers they are for the house! Their stout stems stand well in a vase, keeping their colour and form for many days. Indeed, one could fill a jug every week without robbing the garden of its display.

Butterflies are particularly fond of these flowers, and bees seldom pass them by, so they lend a welcome air of industry to the garden. Tucked amongst dahlias, cosmos, or cottage garden favourites, they provide bold colour without appearing brash.

If I may offer one small piece of advice learned over many seasons: don’t be tempted to mollycoddle your zinnias. Give them sunshine, a little room to breathe, and keep the faded flowers picked. They’ll reward you with a glorious procession of fiery blooms that would make any summer border look all the richer for their presence.