07/24/2026
A zinnia (Zinnia elegans), most likely a double or semi-double cultivar, from our flower bed.
Layered outer ray petals in a rich purple/magenta color.
A dense tuft of inner petaloid florets (the white-and-purple striped structures) in the center. This "flower within a flower" look is common in double and semi-double zinnia cultivars.
Tiny yellow star-shaped disk florets are emerging among the inner petals—a hallmark of zinnias in the daisy family (Asteraceae).
This unusual center is actually a desirable trait in many ornamental zinnia varieties. Cultivars such as 'Purple Prince' and other heirloom or specialty mixes can produce blooms with prominent white-backed inner petals.
This image was created from 33 separate photos with a macro lens. Each image had a very shallow depth of field. I took the sharpest slice of each image and stacked them together in Photoshop, creating one seamless photo that is extremely sharp across the entire flower, while leaving the stem out of focus.
