Common Zinnia
Scientific Name: Zinnia elegans
Category: plant
Brief Description
A popular garden annual featuring bright, solitary flower heads on stiff stems with opposite, lance-shaped leaves.
Characteristics
Stiff, upright stems; opposite, sessile leaves that clasp the stem slightly; bright multi-petaled composite flower heads with vibrant red, pink, orange, yellow, or white ray florets.
Habitat
Cultivated gardens, flowerbeds, and occasionally escaped into disturbed areas or waste places.
When to Find It
Blooms from mid-summer until the first fall frost.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
Attracts numerous pollinators, particularly butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Easily Confused With
Other members of the Asteraceae family such as marigolds (Tagetes) or chrysanthemums, distinguished by foliage texture and floral structure.
Observation Tips
Best observed in sunny garden locations during peak daylight hours when pollinators are active.
Interesting Facts
Zinnias were the first flowers to be grown on the International Space Station, blooming successfully in 2016.