zinnia

Any of various plants of the genus Zinnia, native to tropical America, especially Z. elegans, widely cultivated for its showy, rayed, variously colored flower heads. Also called regionally old maid, old maid flower.

[New Latin Zinnia, genus name, after Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727–1759), German botanist.]

(click to enlarge)
Zinnia elegans (credit: Kenneth and Brenda Formanek/EB Inc.)

Any of about 11 species of herbaceous plants and shrubs that make up the genus Zinnia in the aster family (Asteraceae), native mainly to North America. Where native, they are perennial; elsewhere they are annual. Zinnias have stiff, hairy stems and oval or lance-shaped leaves arranged opposite each other and often clasping the stem. The numerous garden varieties grown for their showy, solitary flowers come from the species Z. violacea (Z. elegans). Garden zinnias range from dwarf compact plants (less than 1 ft, or 30 cm, tall), with flowers 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter, to giant forms (up to 3 ft, or 1 m, tall), with flowers up to 6 in. (15 cm) across.

For more information on zinnia, visit Britannica.com.

Zin'ee-a. Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs comprising about 15 species, chiefly found in Mexico, but also in Tex., Colo., and Chile.

Description
Rather stiff erect stems with short bristly hairs. Leaves opposite, ovalish or lance-shaped, usually stem-clasping. Flowers in solitary, flattish or cone-shaped, showy heads, each flower growing in the axil of a scale-like bract, the tip of which is often colored. Ray flowers of every shade except blue, the underside often greenish, arranged in one to many rows. Disk flowers yellow or purplish brown.

How to Grow
Where growing season is short, start seeds indoors at least 6 weeks before plants will be set out. Do not let soil dry out, and maintain temperature at 65-70° F (18.5-21.0° C). When danger of frost is past, set out in garden. Where growing season is long, sow outdoors in early spring, or earlier in the South. Sow groups of 3-4 seeds 12 in. (30 cm) apart. Thin when 3 in. (7.5 cm) high. Best results come from enriched soil. Keep moist until established. To prevent mildew disease, do not wet leaves. Water freely in hot, dry weather. In very hot climates, provide afternoon shade. All zinnias prefer warm weather. They make excellent cut flowers. Strip off leaves, because foliage deteriorates quickly and will smell rank.

Zinnia angustifolia
Zinnia . 12-16 in. (30.0-40.5 cm) high. Flowerheads to 1 in. (4 cm) wide, the disk black-purple, the rays orange with a yellow stripe. Mexico. New dwarf cultivars are excellent for edging or ground covers. Tolerates dry soil. Also sold as Z. linearis . Tender annual.

Zinnia elegans
Common Zinnia ; Youth-and-Old-Age . To 3 ft. (90 cm) high. Flowerheads to 4 in. (10 cm) wide, the rays purple or reddish lilac, the disk yellow or orange. Mexico. Cultivars are available in every color except blue, including green and bicolors. Most have double flowers, some with giant blossoms, to 6 in. (15 cm) wide, or quilled petals. «Come-and-come-again» kinds are long-flowering. Disk flowers often absent in cultivars. Tender annual.

Zinnia Haageana
Mexican Zinnia . To 2 ft. (60 cm) high. Flowerheads to 2 in. (6 cm) wide, the rays orange, the disk yellow, red, or orange. Mexico. Tolerates dry soil. Tender annual.

Zinnia
Zinnia x hybrida 'Profusion Orange'
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae (unranked): Angiosperms (unranked): Eudicots (unranked): Asterids Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Tribe: Heliantheae Genus: Zinnia L.

Zinnia is a genus of 20 species of annual and perennial plants of family Asteraceae, originally from scrub and dry grassland in an area stretching from the American Southwest to South America, but primarily Mexico, and notable for their solitary long-stemmed flowers that come in a variety of bright colors.

Zinnia leaves are opposite and usually stalkless (sessile), with a shape ranging from linear to ovate, and pale to middle green in color. The flowers have a range of appearances, from a single row of petals, to a dome shape, with the colors white, chartreuse, yellow, orange, red, purple, and lilac.

Zinnias are popular garden flowers, usually grown from seed, and preferably in fertile, humus-rich, and well-drained soil, in an area with full sun. They will reseed themselves each year. Over 100 cultivars have been produced since selective breeding started in the 19th century.

Zinnia elegans, also known as Zinnia violacea, is the most familiar species, originally from Mexico and thus a warm-hot climate plant. Its leaves are lance-shaped and sandpapery in texture, and height ranges from 15 cm to 1 meter.

Zinnia linearis, also known as Z. angustifolia, is another Mexican species. It has a low bushy plant habit, linear foliage, and more delicate flowers than Z. elegans - usually single, and in shades of yellow, orange or white. It is also more resistant to powdery mildew than Z. elegans, and hybrids between the two species have been raised which impart this resistance on plants intermedate in appearance between the two. The Profusion series, with both single and double-flowered components, is bred by Sakata of Japan, and is among the most well-known of this hybrid group.

Zinnias seem especially favored by butterflies, and many gardeners add zinnias specifically to attract them.^[1][2]

The name of the genus derives from the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn (1727-1759).

Contents 1 Species 2 Gallery 3 References 4 External links

Species

Genus Zinnia L. includes the following species

• Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray -- desert zinnia
• Zinnia angustifolia Kunth -- narrowleaf zinnia
• Zinnia anomala Gray -- shortray zinnia
• Zinnia bicolor
• Zinnia elegans
• Zinnia grandiflora Nutt. -- Rocky Mountain zinnia
• Zinnia haageana
• Zinnia linearis
• Zinnia maritima Kunth -- Palmer's Zinnia
  • Zinnia maritima var. maritima
  • Zinnia maritima var. palmeri (Gray) B.L. Turner -- Palmer's zinnia
• Zinnia peruviana (L.) L. -- Peruvian zinnia
• Zinnia pumila (=Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray)
• Zinnia violacea Cav.(=Zinnia elegans Jacq.) -- elegant zinnia

Gallery

Zinnia acerosa	Zinnia grandiflora	Zinnia peruviana	Zinnia bicolor
Single zinnia flower	A bed of zinnias

References

1. ^ "Monarch Watch". The Kansas Biological Survey, Univ of Kansas. 2008-05-27. http://www.monarchwatch.org/. Retrieved on 2008-05-27. 
2. ^ "Saving Butterflies Insect Ecologist Spearheads Creation of Oases for Endangered Butterflies". ScienceDaily. 2005-01-01. http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2005/0810-saving_butterflies.htm. Retrieved on 2008-05-27. 

External links

• USDA PLANTS Database, Symbol ZINNI
• Zinnia hybrids
• Arthur B. Howard

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