Creeping zinnia

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Water moderately, allowing the surface soil to dry between waterings. Established plants tolerate brief dry spells, but containers need regular checks.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or loamy soil of moderate fertility. Avoid heavy, persistently wet ground.

Height

0.3-0.7 ft (0.1-0.2 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Summer to the first autumn frosts; small yellow daisies with dark brown centres, with orange-flowered forms also available.

Foliage

Small, oval to lance-shaped green leaves held in opposite pairs on branching, spreading stems.

Growth

Fast; forms a spreading mound within one growing season.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.5 ft (0.15 m)

   full size

Full size in one season.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant out after the last frost, once the soil has warmed, spacing plants about 1 ft (0.3 m) apart.
• Water young plants regularly until established, then water when the surface soil dries.
• Use containers with drainage holes and avoid leaving pots standing in water.
• Feed container plants lightly with a balanced liquid fertiliser every four to six weeks; avoid heavy feeding in garden beds.
• Keep mulch thin and clear of the stems to prevent damp conditions around the crown.

Pruning. Deadheading is usually unnecessary. During summer, trim straggly stems lightly to keep plants compact and remove any dead or damaged growth.

Early spring

Sow seed indoors about six to eight weeks before your last expected frost, covering it lightly and keeping it warm.

Late spring

Harden off seedlings gradually and plant outside after frost risk has passed.

Early summer

Check moisture while plants establish and give container plants a light feed.

Midsummer

Trim trailing stems if they become untidy and check pots frequently during hot weather.

Autumn

Collect seed from dry flower heads if wanted; seedlings from named cultivars may differ from their parents.

Late autumn

Remove plants after frost kills them and compost healthy material.

• Edge sunny paths or borders with a low ribbon of yellow flowers.
• Let stems spill over the edges of pots, window boxes and hanging baskets.
• Plant in groups between taller summer annuals to cover exposed soil.
• Combine with purple verbena or blue salvia for a contrasting summer display.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Modern courtyard, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance, Small-space and Hot border.

Plant it with: Verbena, Blue salvia, French marigold, Petunia, Sweet alyssum and Dwarf ornamental grasses.

Wildlife: The open flowers provide food for visiting bees, hoverflies and other small pollinating insects.

• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and remove badly affected plants.
• Slugs and snails damaging seedlings: inspect after dark, remove pests and protect young plants where necessary.
• Sparse flowering in shade: move containers to full sun or choose a sunnier planting position next season.
• Leggy growth after heavy feeding: reduce fertiliser and lightly trim long stems.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, particularly for horses, so do not treat any part as edible or allow pets or livestock to eat large amounts.

• Narrowleaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia)

  Usually forms a more upright mound, with narrower leaves and larger flowers rather than tiny daisies along creeping stems.

• Butter daisy (Melampodium divaricatum)

  Grows more upright and bushy, and its yellow daisies have yellow rather than dark brown centres.

• Fern-leaved beggarticks (Bidens ferulifolia)

  Has finely divided, fern-like leaves and generally larger yellow flowers with yellow centres.

The species name procumbens means lying down or trailing, describing its spreading stems.

Propagation. Usually grown from seed sown indoors before the last frost or directly outdoors once the soil is warm and frost risk has passed. Cover seed lightly and keep evenly moist until germination; avoid keeping seedlings waterlogged.

Accepted botanical name

Sanvitalia procumbens

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Guatemala, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Southeast and Mexico Southwest.

Measured

Average height 16 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.