# Elegant Zinnia (*Zinnia elegans*)

Elegant Zinnias are bright and colorful flowers that bloom in many shades like pink, orange, and yellow. They are easy to grow and attract butterflies, making gardens look cheerful and lively!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Gardens

![Elegant Zinnia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Zinnia_elegans_with_Bombus_01.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Simon Koopmann, CC BY-SA 2.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zinnia_elegans_with_Bombus_01.JPG)

## Appearance

The Elegant Zinnia boasts vibrant, often multi-layered daisy-like or globe-shaped flowers with concentric rings of petals. Its distinct blooms come in nearly every color except blue, from fiery reds and oranges to soft pinks and purples, centered around a prominent disk.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Asterales
- **Family:** Asteraceae
- **Genus:** Zinnia

## Interesting facts

- Some Zinnia petals are actually safe to eat and can add a pop of color to salads!
- These cheerful blooms were once called 'poorhouse flowers' because they were so easy to grow.
- Zinnia flowers come in almost every color imaginable, except for true blue!
- Zinnias are like a perfect landing pad for butterflies, offering a great place to rest!

## Special abilities

- **Vibrant Colors Magnet:** Elegant Zinnia has incredibly bright petals that attract bees and butterflies for effective pollination.
- **Sun Warrior:** Elegant Zinnia can thrive in hot, sunny conditions, enabling it to survive dry spells with ease.
- **Bloom Machine:** Elegant Zinnia produces abundant flowers, ensuring many seeds are made for future generations.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-100 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-15 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** [Monarch butterfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/monarch-butterfly) (*Danaus plexippus*) — Feeds on nectar, carrying pollen between flowers.
- **Eaten by:** tobacco hornworm (*Manduca sexta*) — Larvae feed on Zinnia leaves and stems.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking flowers, and be gentle with plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Elegant Zinnia?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Elegant Zinnia?

30-100 cm

### How wide does Elegant Zinnia spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Elegant Zinnia?

5-15 cm

### When does Elegant Zinnia bloom?

Summer to fall

### Is Elegant Zinnia edible?

Yes

### Is Elegant Zinnia toxic?

None

### What is Elegant Zinnia's lifecycle?

Annual

## Where to spot

- [Brewton Historic Commercial District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brewton-historic-commercial-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Elegant Zinnia: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elegant-zinnia)