The title compouand {[Zn(C(4)H(4)O(6))(C(12)H(8)N(2))]·6H(2)O}(n), has a linear chain structure parallel to [100] with Zn(C(4)H(4)O(6))(C(12)H(8)N(2)) repeat units; the asymmetric unit consists of one Zn(2+) cation, one l-tartrate dianion, one 1,10-phenanthroline and six free water mol-ecules. The Zn atom is in a distorted octa-hedral ZnN(2)O(4) coordination environment. The crystal structure is stabilized by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking of the phenanthroline units [centroid-centroid distances in the range 3.552 (2)-3.625 (2)Å] occurs between the chains. The title compound is isotypic with the Cu and Mn analogues.