Zinnias

With a diversity of colors —bold, vibrant, pastel, white and even green—and plant sizes —dwarf, medium, or tall and stately—there is a zinnia to please everyone. Some varieties boast such large blooms, one flower will fill your two cupped hands! Zinnias will always catch the attention of passers-by, and stop you in your garden tracks. It did not start out that way, as the zinnia of the wild was nondescript; it was not a garden success until the mid-19th century. Named for Dr. Johann Gottfried Zinn who wrote the first description of the flower, years of breeding brought striking new colors, shapes, sizes, and growing habits to the once humble zinnia. Zinnias retain their color and beauty for a very long time in fresh or dried flower arrangements.