The Zinnia Seeds TikTok Swears By For A Garden Full Of Big Beautiful Blooms

Zinnias are big, bold, and bright single-stem flowers that aren't for gardeners who like to keep their flower beds subtle. From USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 10, these warm weather favorites bring joy as summer annual ornamentals and are perfect for a cut flower garden. This seems to be especially true for those who plant TikTok's latest favorite packet of zinnia seeds, Sweet Yards' California Giants Mix (currently available on Amazon for $12.99). As TikTokers like kristysplantsandmore and annieslovelythings have marveled online, these seeds offer an incredibly fast germination period and very large blooms.

Provided with full sun, the sprouts will take off and bloom into the most spectacular extra-large zinnia flowers, measuring an astounding 5 inches across. Much like their short germination period, these flowers bloom quickly (in as little as two months) and will stay in bloom until fall. If you're sold on this viral zinnia seed mix, consider this your guide to successfully achieving the colorful, eye-catching zinnia garden of your dreams. 

The popularity of zinnias as a summer flower for both outdoor enjoyment and indoor cut flower arrangements is certainly nothing new. So, what is it about the California Giants Mix that has grabbed the attention of gardeners across TikTok? First, this mixed heirloom seed medley of Orange King, pink Luminosa, red Cherry Queen, Violet Queen, white Polar Bear, and yellow Canary Bird zinnia varieties contains over 3,000 non-GMO and open-pollinated seeds per 1-ounce packet. Not only does this ensure a vast array of vivid colors to spice up your garden or flower beds, it's also enough to cover about 75 square feet of space (and if you want to plant a whole zinnia field, you can upgrade to the ¼-pound bag for $36.99).

You can expect each California Giants zinnia to grow up to 4 feet tall and produce flowers that are up to 5 inches wide. Classic zinnia (Zinnia linearis), for comparison, comes in at about 10 to 20 inches tall, and its flowers typically measure about 1.5 inches wide. The California Giants Mix package also comes with all the care requirement information you need to grow these blooms successfully, which would especially be beneficial for beginners. It's really no surprise that flower lovers are taking to the internet to recommend these striking giants to other gardeners. 

Generally speaking, it is quite easy to grow and care for zinnias. In return for your minimal effort, they will provide you with an abundant supply of fresh cut flowers (and butterflies, as well as other pollinators) all summer. The same is true for California Giants mix. These flowers need 6 to 8 hours of full sun exposure each day for best results. Fortunately, they are a little more adaptable when it comes to soil conditions and will thrive in average soil. However, adding compost to your soil can help zinnias grow even faster.

Zinnias can be started indoors about a month before the last frost is expected and then transplanted, or you can simply wait until the last frost has passed and plant your California Giants seeds directly in the ground about ¼ an inch deep. Try to space the seeds a few inches apart, if possible. Once the seedlings reach about 3 inches tall, you can begin thinning them to ensure proper air circulation and prevent powdery mildew from taking over. Water your zinnias daily and, once they bloom, remove flowers as soon as they appear to be dead to encourage more blooms.