Zinnias were first discovered in Mexico, being grown by the Aztecs, and brought to Europe by the Spaniards in 1500.   The Aztecs valued them in their gardens and viewed them as a sacred symbol of the sun. The bright colors of the flowers reminded them of the sun.  One variety of zinnias is named Aztec Sunset.

The first documentation of zinnias was done by the 18th-century botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, for whom the flowers were named by plant scientist Carl Linnaeus.

Easy to grow and bloom with vibrant colors from early summer to frost.  Many butterflies and bees are attracted to these blooms.  These flowers also attract hoverflies which feed on aphids and help control the population of these pests in your garden.  

When zinnia flowers are done blooming, they form a dry seedhead which can be easily saved and planted in your next years garden.