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.