An experiment was carried out at Department of Seed Science and Technology. TNAU, Coimbatore to evaluate ithe seed harvesting stage. seed size, shape and colour on seed quality in zinnia, Results indicated that the physiological maturity occuTed 40 days after anthesis. Seeds retained in British Sieve Size (BSS) 6 x 6 was found to give superior seed quality characters. BSS 8x8 was found optimum with maximum seed recovery and satisfactory seed quality. Achenes of Z. elegans can be separated into four categories as oblong light brown, oblong dark brown, linear dark brown and linear light brown based on pericarp colour and shape. Significant seed quality differences were observed among above categories.