Look like zinnias to me.

Yes Zinnia growing next to the Cycad.

Thanks so much. Can I cut them now? does that help or hurt & where is best place (5" from bud or 7" from bud???)

Cut them wherever you like - it won't hurt the plant. They're annuals, but I don't know how they'd behave in California.

Removing the dead flowers will keep new ones coming as long as possible.

does that help or hurt & where is best place (5" from bud or 7" from bud???)

==>>> you are thinking the wrong direction ...

look at any leaf node.. where a leaf attaches to a stem ... you ought to see a very small bud in there ...

if so.. you cut a half inch or so above it... then you enjoy the flower.. and the plant will activate that tiny bud ...

you would not cut 5 or 7 inches above that bud ..

and.. eventually.. your plant is going to fall over for getting too tall ..... so it wouldnt hurt to find one way down low.. to make your plant a bit shorter.. and more stable... but dont get carried away and cut off all the leaves.. beheading the thing.. you probably can.. but the plant will waste a lot of time re-growing leaves....before it flowers again ....

ken

They do very well in s.calif.I love them!!
Kathi

I love zinnias, too, but don't get too attached to them. They do go downhill precipitously. Here in central Florida, my neighbor starts a huge raised bed of zinnias only. He probably has time to get in two or three crops before it gets too chilly. They tend to start looking kind of fungus-y before they're finished flowering....at least here, they do, where the humidity is high.