Top 12 Zinnia Companion Plants for Vibrant Gardens

Growing zinnias is a joy, but finding the right companion plants to grow with them can be challenging. You want plants that not only look good together but also help each other thrive. Getting this mix right can make your garden both pretty and healthy.

I’ve tested dozens of plant combinations with zinnias in my garden and found the perfect matches. In this post, I’ll showcase plants that pair wonderfully with zinnias, making your garden even more vibrant and full.

You’ll learn which plants keep pests away from your zinnias, which ones pull in helpful bugs, and which ones create the most eye-catching color combinations.

Let’s find the perfect garden buddies for your zinnias!

What Are Zinnia Companion Plants?

Zinnia companion plants are flowers, herbs, and grasses that grow well with zinnias. Good companions share the same sun and water needs. They also bring extra perks to your garden.

Benefits of companion planting with zinnias

• Better pest control without chemicals
• More bees and butterflies help with pollination
• Fuller, more colorful garden beds
• Better use of garden space
• Healthier plants that help each other grow

Some plants, with their smell, keep bugs away from zinnias. Others attract beneficial insects that eat pests. Many add new colors, heights, or shapes that make your garden more fun to look at.

12 Best Zinnia Companions to Brighten Your Garden

Let’s analyze vibrant companion plants that pair beautifully with zinnias, sweetening color, attracting pollinators, and repelling pests.

1. Marigolds

Marigolds make perfect friends for zinnias in any garden. Their bright flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, and red.

Why they pair well: Marigolds repel pests with their strong scent. They stop aphids and other bugs from eating your zinnias. Both plants like the same growing conditions – full sun and regular water.

Growing tips: Plant marigolds 8-10 inches from zinnias. Try French marigolds for borders or African marigolds to match the zinnia height. They’ll bloom all summer with little care.

2. Cosmos

Cosmos have daisy-like flowers on tall, thin stems. They are pink, purple, white, and red.

Why they pair well: Cosmos and zinnias share a similar flower shape but offer different colors. Together, they attract more bees and butterflies, helping both plants grow better and produce more blooms.

Growing tips: Plant taller cosmos behind shorter zinnias. This creates a nice height flow in your garden. Both require full sun and moderate watering. Space them 12 inches apart to allow for good airflow.

3. Lavender

Lavender brings soft purple spikes and a sweet smell to the garden. It’s a long-lived plant that comes back each year.

Why they pair well: The soft purple of lavender makes zinnia colors look brighter. Lavender’s scent repels bugs that might harm zinnias. It also attracts beneficial insects, such as bees.

Growing tips: Plant lavender 12-15 inches from zinnias. Please place them in a spot where you can control the water, as lavender requires less water than zinnias. Both need full sun to bloom well.

4. Ornamental Grasses

Grasses add movement and a different texture to flower beds. They sway with the breeze while zinnias stand firm.

Why they pair well: Grasses create a soft backdrop for bright zinnia blooms. Their thin leaves and seed heads make the bold shapes of zinnias stand out even more. They also help block wind that might break zinnia stems.

Growing tips: Mix blue fescue, feather reed grass, or fountain grass with zinnias. Plant grasses in groups, with taller types behind zinnias. Ensure both receive full sun for optimal growth.

5. Black-eyed Susans

Black-eyed Susans have yellow petals with dark centers. They resemble wild sunflowers and bloom for several weeks.

Why they pair well: These two plants share warm colors that blend well. Both attract bees, butterflies, and helpful bugs to your garden. They also require similar sunlight and water, making care relatively easy.

Growing tips: Space plants about 10 inches apart. They both grow full and bushy, so give them room to plant in spots with at least 6 hours of sun daily for best blooms.

6. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is a low, carpet-like plant with tiny white or purple flowers. It smells like honey and stays small.

Why they pair well: Alyssum fills the space below tall zinnias, making a full garden at all heights. Its sweet smell attracts beneficial bugs that prey on pests. The tiny flowers make zinnia blooms look even bigger.

Growing tip: Scatter alyssum seeds around the bases of zinnias. It will grow quickly to cover empty soil and stop weeds. Water both plants at soil level to keep leaves dry and healthy.

7. Sunflowers

Sunflowers grow tall with big, yellow blooms that face the sun. They can reach heights of 6-10 feet.

Why they pair well: Sunflowers create a living wall behind shorter zinnias. Their height adds drama to garden beds. Both plants attract bees and birds, making your garden a haven for wildlife.

Growing tip: Plant sunflowers on the north side to avoid shading zinnias. Space them at least 12 inches apart. Both need full sun and regular water to look their best.

8. Basil

Basil has bright green leaves and a strong, fresh smell. It comes in many types, from sweet to purple to Thai.

Why they pair well: The green leaves make zinnia colors look brighter. Basil’s smell keeps pests away from both plants. You can pick basil for cooking while still having a pretty garden.

Growing tips: Plant basil between zinnia groups, about 8 inches away from each zinnia. Both need warm soil to grow well, water at the base to keep leaves dry, and stop disease.

9. Echinacea

Echinacea (purple coneflower) has pink-purple petals that drop down from a raised center cone. It’s tough and long-living.

Why they pair well: The pointed shape of echinacea looks good next to round zinnia faces. Both attract a multitude of bees and butterflies. Echinacea returns yearly, while zinnias are replanted each season.

Growing tips: Plant in groups of 3-5 plants for the best show. Space them about 12 inches apart. Both need good soil and full sun. Echinacea requires less water once it is settled in.

10. Creeping Jenny

Creeping Jenny is a low-growing plant with round, bright green leaves. It spreads quickly to cover bare ground.

Why they pair well: This green carpet makes zinnia colors look brighter. It also stops weeds from growing around zinnia stems. Both plants are easy to care for and grow fast.

Growing tip: Let creeping Jenny spread around the bases of zinnias. Keep it 2 inches from the stems to prevent rot. It grows well in full sun or partial shade and requires medium watering.

11. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums have round leaves and bright orange, yellow, or red flowers. They grow in a sprawling, low form.

Why they pair well: These plants pull bugs away from zinnias. Pests like aphids often go to nasturtiums first. Their bright flowers echo zinnia colors while staying low to the ground.

Growing tips: Sow seeds between zinnia plants. Nasturtiums need room to spread out. Both plants like full sun but can handle some poor soil. Don’t overfeed, or you’ll get leaves without flowers.

12.Delphinium

Delphiniums grow tall with spikes of blue, purple, or white flowers. They add height and a cottage garden feel.

Why they pair well: The cool blue and purple tones balance warm zinnia colors. Their tall, thin shape stands out among round zinnia blooms. Together, they create a full, wild-looking garden.

Growing tips: Plant delphiniums behind zinnias, about 12 inches apart. Stake tall types to keep them from falling over. Both require rich soil and full sun for optimal growth.

Maximizing Garden Beauty with Perfect Zinnia Pairings

1. Color Magic: Plants That Make Zinnias Look Better

The Color Wheel in Your Garden Bed

Plants with colors that sit opposite each other on the color wheel create a strong visual appeal. This explains why purple flowers make orange zinnias stand out so much.

Purple and blue companions

• Lavender – Its soft purple stems create a dreamy backdrop for bright zinnias
• Delphinium – Tall blue spikes add height and cool tones
• Salvia – Purple blooms last for weeks and pull in hummingbirds

Yellow and white companions

• Black-eyed Susans – Golden petals blend with warm-toned zinnias
• Sweet alyssum – Tiny white flowers create a frothy base under tall zinnias
• Sunflowers – Giant yellow blooms make smaller zinnias stand out more

The secret is mixing colors that either match or contrast with your zinnias. For red zinnias, consider pairing them with white companions. For pink zinnias, yellow neighbors make them stand out.

2. Shape and Size: Creating Visual Interest

Mixing Forms for Eye-Catching Beds

Gardens look their best when they feature a variety of plant shapes and sizes. Zinnias have round, flat-faced flowers, so plants with other forms make them more interesting.

Spiky and tall companions

• Ornamental grasses – Their thin blades and seed heads sway in the wind
• Snapdragons – Tall flower spikes bring a new form to the garden
• Russian sage – Thin stems and tiny flowers create a misty look

Low and spreading companions

• Creeping thyme – Forms a mat of tiny leaves with small pink flowers
• Nasturtiums – Round leaves and bright flowers spill over the edges
• Petunias – Wave types spread wide and fill spaces between zinnias

A good mix includes tall plants behind zinnias, middle-height plants beside them, and low plants in front. This creates a “stair step” effect that looks full and planned.

Conclusion

Picking the right zinnia companion plants can change your garden. These plant friends do more than look nice beside your zinnias; they work together to create a healthier and more vibrant garden space.

By pairing marigolds, cosmos, lavender, grasses, or black-eyed Susans with your zinnias, you’ll enjoy better pest control, more pollinators, and a garden that looks full and planned.

Start small by adding just one companion plant next to your zinnias this season. Watch as they grow together and see how the garden evolves. Which zinnia companion are you most excited to try?

Share your garden wins in the comments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Plant Zinnias in a Vegetable Garden?

Yes! Zinnias make great companions for vegetables. They attract bees and butterflies that help pollinate your crops.

Do Zinnias Grow Better in Sun or Shade?

Zinnias grow much better in full sun. They need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to bloom well.

Can You Plant Zinnias with Tomatoes?

Yes, zinnias grow well with tomatoes. They attract helpful bees and butterflies while adding color.