Hummingbirds often seek nectar from the flowers. For decades, zinnias have been the flowering annual of choice for spreading glorious colors throughout the garden as well as for cutting to bring indoors. It wasn't always so. Family Tree . There are more than a dozen species of zinnias, members of the Compositae, or daisy family, but only three species are regularly grown in home gardens as annuals here in Hampton Roads.
Flowers are available in just about every color except blue.
Probably the least known of zinnias is Z. haageana, or the Mexican zinnia. Back then . Even after seeds of zinnias were sent back to Europe in the 18th century, the plants were not much to look at. Named for Dr. Johann Gottfried Zinn, who wrote the first description of the flower, the genus Zinnia had to wait for the late 19th century to become more successful as a garden annual. Zinnias come in various heights and flower forms.