This annual has an upright habit with slender stems that fom a bushy habit. It has mid green ovate leaves and the large radiate flowers are avaliable in many colours white, pink, red, lavender and apricot appearing throughout summer above the foliage.

Hardiness zones 8 to 11

Zinnia elegans is naturally found in North America growing in Mexico on desert fringes. It prefers a well drained sandy soil in an open sunny position and is drought tolerant preferring hot dry summers but is frost tender.

Zinnia elegans is grown for its flowers and is planted in small or cottage gardens along low borders or mass planted in bedding displays in parks or public places. It is suitable for coastal or inland regions and establishes in one season. It is also grown in containers or planted in rockeries and uses in tropical gardens. The flowers are cut for floral arrangements. ID 305

Zinnia(ZIN-ee-a) elegans (AY-le-gahnz)

'Zinnia': after German botanist Professor J.G. Zinn; 'elegans': handsome or tasteful (refers to the tidy habit).

Asteraceae (ass-ter-AY-see-ee)     
(Compositae)
Sunflower Family