Zinnias are the third to final entry in my plant encyclopaedia (they're pipped to the post by zizanias & zygopetalums). But the stars of our zinnia arrangement demonstrate that last is by no means least. Big, bold & beautiful, zinnias are members of the daisy family (Asteraceae/ Compositae) & were discovered growing under the clear blue skies of Mexico. Which probably explain why they appear to be soaked with sunshine & radiate such a happy, carnival atmosphere. As for their name
- & position at the end of the alphabetical queue
- that's down to the 18th century German physician & botanist who discovered them. His name was J.G. Zinn.