Zinnia sp. (Zinnia)

Zinnia is a genus of flowering plants in the Asteraceae family native primarily to Mexico and extending into other parts of the Americas. Most garden Zinnias are upright, branching annuals, ranging from compact plants under 1 foot (30 cm) tall to vigorous forms reaching 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 m). Their showy flower heads occur in a remarkable range of colors, including white, cream, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, and green, with numerous single, semi-double, and fully double forms. Flowering begins in late spring or summer and continues until cold weather.

Zinnias grow best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil and tolerate heat and moderate drought once established. Good air circulation helps reduce problems with powdery mildew and other fungal diseases. Regular deadheading encourages continued flowering, and the nectar-rich blooms attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Zinnias are frost-tender annuals that can be grown during the warm season in virtually all USDA zones, rather than plants restricted to a particular hardiness-zone range. Their rapid growth, easy cultivation, long flowering season, and extraordinary diversity of colors and flower forms make Zinnias popular for borders, containers, pollinator gardens, and cut flowers.