ZINNIA FLOWERS

[Pronounced Zen-nee-a], with the accent on the first part. There are approximately 22 species. No known geologic history.              

                           Some Interesting Facts:

Solitary long-stemmed flowers with numerous petals. Colors range from white, yellow, orange, red, purple, to pink.

Annuals (= last only one growing season), easy to grow, prefer full sunlight and adequate water, can withstand hot summer temperatures.

Dislike being transplanted and dislike frost.

They bloom all summer long and are a "flower for all gardens." They are closely related to daisies.

Hummingbirds and butterflies like these flowers.

These flowers were native to scrub and dry grasslands in SW USA, Mexico, and South America. They were discovered in Mexico and brought to Europe in the 1700s. 

Also, the type of inflorescence in the center of the flower is noticeably variable (ranging from flattish to conical shape) in morphology among the examples shown below. Their flowers consist of ray florets that surround disk florets, which may be different color than the ray florets (as very evident in the images shown here). 

                                               IMAGES  

Tallest flower (first image shown below) was grown in our garden and is 55 inches high above ground level:

The following images show the variation in the color of the petals and also the considerable range in inflorescence at the centers of the flowers.

Useful Reference:

The Zinnia-a flower for all gardens. https://www.harvesting.com

Addendum: Zinnia should be in every flower garden.