Zinia graceful or better known by the scientific name Zinnia elegans is one of the most famous annual flowering plants of the genus Zinia. This plant is native to Mexico, but grows as an ornamental plant in many places and is widespread in several places, including Central and South America, the West Indies, the United States, Australia and Italy.
This species was first discovered in 1789 in Tixtla, Guerrero by Sessé and Mociño. This plant was then officially named Zinnia violacea by Cavanilles in 1791. Jacquin then re-named this plant in 1792 as Zinnia elegans. The genus name was given by Carl von Linné after the German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn who previously included the species now known as Zinnia peruviana as Rudbeckia foliis oppositis hirsutis ovato-acutis, calyce imbricatus, radii petalis pistillatis Linné in 1757. this does not include Rudbeckia.