Botanical Name: Zinnia marylandica 'Zahara® Cherry’

Hardiness Zone: Grown as an Annual in All Climates

Size: 12–18" Tall × 12–18" Spread

Growth Habit: Compact, Mounded, Well-Branched Habit

Sunlight: Thrives in Full Sun

Soil: Prefers Well-Drained Soil; Tolerates Average to Poor Soils

Water Needs: Moderate Water Needs; Drought Tolerant Once Established

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Frost

Fertilizer: Light, Occasional Feeding; Avoid Excess Nitrogen

Features: Cherry-Red Blooms, Exceptional Heat Tolerance, Superior Disease Resistance, Pollinator Friendly

Uses: Ideal for Mass Plantings, Borders, Containers, and High-Heat Landscapes

Patent Status: ✔ Patented

Propagation: ❌ Propagation Prohibited Without License

More About Zinnia Zahara® Cherry

Zahara® Cherry is bred specifically for gardeners who need dependable color in challenging summer conditions. The blooms are rich and vibrant without fading, even under relentless sun and heat. Plants maintain a tidy, rounded habit and fill in evenly, making them especially effective in mass plantings where uniformity matters. Compared to older zinnia types, Zahara® Cherry is far less prone to disease and doesn’t require deadheading to keep blooming. The result is a consistently clean, colorful planting that looks good from planting time straight through fall.

Why We Like It (Our Trials)

In our trials, Zahara® Cherry consistently ranked among the toughest zinnias in the field. Plants showed excellent resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot, staying clean and attractive when other zinnias began to decline. Growth remained compact and controlled, with no tendency to stretch or thin out in the center.

Flowering was steady and uninterrupted through peak summer heat, even during extended dry spells. From a trial standpoint, Zahara® Cherry stands out as a true workhorse—strong genetics, dependable performance, and bold color with minimal maintenance.

Zahara® Cherry vs. Other Zinnias

Zahara® Cherry brings a depth of color that feels rich without going dark. Compared to Profusion Cherry, it holds up longer in high humidity and keeps its foliage cleaner late into the season. The blooms don’t fade quickly, even under full Southern sun, which isn’t something every red zinnia can claim. Against Zahara® Yellow, it delivers more visual weight and anchors mixed plantings instead of lifting them. 

I’ve also found it to be more uniform than Sweet Tooth Candy Cane, which can vary a bit plant to plant. It’s a color that reads confident rather than flashy, and that matters in larger landscapes. In tougher conditions, Zahara® Cherry really earns its keep. It outperforms Profusion White in late summer when mildew pressure ramps up, and it stays tighter than Profusion Orange when nights stay warm. Choose Zahara® Cherry when you want a strong red that stays polished, especially in beds where consistency and toughness matter most.