In 1842 he moved to Java, working in a botanical garden, and on small government-financed scientific expeditions.

In 1857, he proposed recognizing Malesia as a distinct floristic region, an idea later taken up by Cornelius G.G.J.

[1] The species Clavaria zollingeri described scientifically by French mycologist Joseph-Henri Léveillé in 1846 was named after Heinrich Zollinger, who researched the genus Clavaria, and collected the type specimen in Java.

Zollinger died in Kandangan, a village located near Mount Bromo in East Java, Indonesia.

[2][3] Specimens collected by Zollinger are cared for at Plantentuin Meise, National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, and Kew Herbarium.