zinnia

[ zin-ee-uh ]

noun

1. any of several composite plants of the genus Zinnia, native to Mexico and adjacent areas, especially the widely cultivated species Z. elegans, having variously colored, many-rayed flower heads.

zinnia

/ ˈzɪnɪə /

noun

1. any annual or perennial plant of the genus Zinnia, of tropical and subtropical America, having solitary heads of brightly coloured flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

Word History and Origins

Origin of zinnia¹

1760–70; < New Latin, named after J. G. Zinn (1727–59), German botanist; -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of zinnia¹

C18: named after J. G. Zinn (died 1759), German botanist

Example Sentences

It’s magical for Ferguson too, who over the last 11 months has built a colorful farm on the half-acre with flowers, including Agrostemma, irises, zinnias, cosmos, roses, sunflowers, sweet peas, French dianthus and ranunculus.

From Los Angeles Times

A single seed contains all the genetic information it needs to fulfill its unique biological pattern, whether it is programmed to become an aster, zinnia or an oak tree.

From Seattle Times

He planted vegetables and herbs from seeds, along with free plugs — small starts — of pollinator-friendly flowers like zinnias from nearby Mud Town Farms.

From Los Angeles Times

Right now, the cool season flowers — snapdragons, strawflowers, sweet peas and poppies — are transitioning to ranunculus and anemones and summer annuals like dahlias, zinnias and cosmos.

From Los Angeles Times

The author is a big fan of planting flowers among your vegetables, like carpeting edges of growing beds with flowering alyssum and interplanting cosmos, snapdragons and zinnias to promote biodiversity and support pollinators.

From Seattle Times