Zinnia
Zinnia, the name of about 20 species of annual and perennial plants. They are native to the region from the southwestern United States to Chile, but chiefly to Mexico. Three species have been brought under cultivation, and from these many garden varieties have developed.
Zinnias are easy to grow, and they bloom from summer until late autumn.Garden zinnias grow 12 to 36 inches (30 to 90 cm) tall and bear flowers from one inch (2.5 cm) to more than six inches (15 cm) wide. The flowers appear in purple and in many tones and mixtures of red and yellow. Several types of double flowers have been developed, including some with shaggy heads and quilled petals.
Zinnias are easy to grow, and they bloom from summer until frost. Zinnia seeds should be planted in April or May.
Cultivated zinnias are descendants of Zinnia elegans, Z. angustifolia, and Z. multiflora, of the composite family, Compositae.