Crossword Genius

Showy plant in lodging-place, one in borders of Zambia (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

zinnia

'showy plant' is the definition.
(plant with bright, vibrant flowers)

'lodging-place one in borders of zambia' is the wordplay.
'lodging-place' becomes 'inn'.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'borders of' suggests removing the centre.
'zambia' with its centre removed is 'za'.
'inn'+'i'='inni'
'inni' put into 'za' is 'ZINNIA'.

'in' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for zinnia that I've seen before include "showy garden feature" , "blooming lovely" , "Showy flower (last in any index?)" , "Garden flower" , "Showy plant of the daisy family" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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