When looking for a 12 petal flower that starts with the letter Z, the options are quite limited. In fact, there are no naturally occurring flowering plants that fit this exact criteria. However, there are some possible answers that come close to meeting this description.
Looking at Flower Names Starting with Z
Let’s first examine flower names starting with the letter Z. Some examples include:
- Zinnia
- Zephyranthes
- Zantedeschia
Of these, zinnia and zephyranthes are the most commonly grown flowering plants. Zantedeschia are less commonly grown as ornamental flowers.
Zinnias typically have petal counts ranging from 4-25 petals per flower, depending on the variety. So some zinnia varieties do produce flowers with 12 petals.
Zephyranthes generally produce flowers with 6 petals. There are no naturally occurring varieties with 12 petals.
Zinnia Flowers
Since zinnias can produce flowers with 12 petals, let’s take a closer look at this plant.
Zinnias are annual flowering plants native to Mexico and naturalized throughout much of the southern United States. The common name “zinnia” honors German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn.
There are over 20 species of zinnia and countless cultivated varieties. Some examples include:
- Zinnia elegans – Common zinnia
- Zinnia violacea – Violet zinnia
- Zinnia peruviana – Peruvian zinnia
- Zinnia angustifolia – Narrow-leaf zinnia
- Zinnia haageana – Mexican zinnia
The Zinnia elegans species is the most commonly grown garden zinnia, and includes varieties with many different petal counts:
| Zinnia elegans Variety | Petal Count |
|---|---|
| Lilliput | 12-15 |
| Magellan | 6-8 |
| Benary’s Giant | 4-7 |
As you can see, the Lilliput variety of Zinnia elegans produces flowers with 12-15 petals. This makes it a 12 petal flower starting with Z.
Growing Zinnia Lilliput
Zinnia Lilliput is an ideal variety for gardeners who want a zinnia with abundant small, flattened flowers. Some key facts about this zinnia include:
- Plant height ranges from 4-10 inches tall.
- Flowers are roughly 1 inch in diameter.
- Blooms come in a wide range of colors including red, orange, pink, purple, yellow and white.
- Plants bloom prolifically from mid-summer to first frost.
- This dwarf zinnia grows well in containers and hanging baskets.
- Well-suited for borders, beds and cutting gardens.
To grow Zinnia Lilliput, start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date. Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed starting mix. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate in 5-7 days.
Once seedlings appear, provide plenty of light. Supplemental lighting may be needed in late winter or early spring before seed starting. Thin seedlings to the strongest one per cell or pot. Harden off plants for 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
In the garden, plant zinnia Lilliput in full sun, spacing plants 8-12 inches apart. Fertilize plants regularly with a balanced flower fertilizer. Water when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Pinch back stems once early in the season to encourage bushy, compact growth.
Zinnia Lilliput blooms heavily all season without deadheading. Simply shear plants back halfway in mid-summer to keep them tidy and promote new flower production if needed. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot in zinnias.
Other 12 Petal Flower Options
While Zinnia Lilliput is the only naturally occurring 12 petal flower starting with Z, there are a couple other options to also consider:
- Zinnia Magellan Mixture – This zinnia series produces large 6-8 inch flowers on long stems. While each bloom may have only 6-8 petals, planting a mixture of different colors together can give the effect of a 12 petal flower.
- Zinnia “Cactus Flowered” Mix – These unique zinnias have flattened, twisted, or quill-shaped petals. When multiple layers of petals are present, these zinnia varieties can appear to have 12 or more petals per bloom.
While not technically 12 petal flowers, mixing different zinnia varieties and colors together can provide the visual effect of a multi-petaled bloom. Creative gardeners can use these special zinnia types to achieve the 12 petaled look.
Conclusion
In summary, the 12 petal flower starting with Z is Zinnia Lilliput. This dwarf zinnia variety produces an abundance of small, flattened flowers with 12-15 petals each. Growing Zinnia Lilliput provides a color-packed display in beds, borders and containers all season long.
Other zinnia types such as Magellan and Cactus Flowered mixes can also be combined creatively to mimic the look of a 12 petaled zinnia bloom. While there are no true 12 petal zinnia flowers besides Lilliput, gardeners can achieve this visual effect by planting a diverse zinnia collection.
So if you are searching for a unique 12 petal flower that starts with the letter Z, look no further than the vibrant, versatile and easy-to-grow zinnia. With so many types to choose from, you can create endless combinations of these beautiful blooms in your summer garden.
