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Mexican Zinnia Zinnia haageana

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Mexican Zinnia:

Phonetic Spelling
ZIN-ee-ah ha-jee-AY-nah
Description

Haage zinnia, or Mexican zinnia, is a fast-growing annual in the Asteraceae (daisy) family and native to Mexico. This plant will grow up to 1 foot 6 inches tall and 1 foot wide. The genus, Zinnia, is named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist. The species name commemorates J. H. Haage (1826-1878), a German seed-grower.

Haage zinnia grows in full sun to partial shade. Plant it 12 inches to 3 feet apart in highly organic matter or loamy soil that has good drainage and can be occasionally dry. These plants can only be propagated by seed. Avoid watering foliage late in the day. This variety of zinnia needs good air circulation for best performance. It is very tolerant of heat, drought, and pests. Powdery mildew is not an issue as it is with other varieties, and this plant is seldom damaged by deer.

This species of zinnia features narrow-leaved plants with flower heads 1 inch in diameter and containing yellow rays and orange center disks. Some are single and have the appearance of a marigold or coreopsis bloom.  Others are double or semi-double with a full appearance. Many varieties include 2 to 3 tones of color on the same flower.  

Haage zinnia is a carefree choice for the novice gardener, an easy plant to grow. It will brighten a container, patio, walkway, or slope through a long blooming season. Use it as a border or mass planting in a cutting, drought-tolerant, butterfly or pollinator garden, where it will attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. 

Insects, Diseases, Other Plant Problems:  No significant problems.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common zinnia insect pests and diseases.  

 VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens. 

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See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aztec Burgundy Bicolor'
  • 'Aztec Sunset'
    24" in height, double flowers on a dwarf bushy plant. Its nectar and pollen rich blooms attract may pollinators.
  • 'Chippendale'
    Bi-colored, red flowerhead with yellow petal tips.
  • 'Old Mexico'
    Dense, 12-18" compact mound of double and semi-double mahogany-red blooms with gold tips.
  • 'Orange Star'
    Low growing
  • 'Persian Carpet Mix'
    16" tall, double & semi-double blooms
  • 'Soleado'
    18" single orange blooms on strong stems.
'Aztec Burgundy Bicolor', 'Aztec Sunset', 'Chippendale', 'Old Mexico', 'Orange Star', 'Persian Carpet Mix', 'Soleado'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#easy to grow#low maintenance#slopes#mass planting#pest resistant#deer resistant#long bloom time#groundcover#pollinator plant#native annual#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#annual#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Aztec Burgundy Bicolor'
  • 'Aztec Sunset'
    24" in height, double flowers on a dwarf bushy plant. Its nectar and pollen rich blooms attract may pollinators.
  • 'Chippendale'
    Bi-colored, red flowerhead with yellow petal tips.
  • 'Old Mexico'
    Dense, 12-18" compact mound of double and semi-double mahogany-red blooms with gold tips.
  • 'Orange Star'
    Low growing
  • 'Persian Carpet Mix'
    16" tall, double & semi-double blooms
  • 'Soleado'
    18" single orange blooms on strong stems.
'Aztec Burgundy Bicolor', 'Aztec Sunset', 'Chippendale', 'Old Mexico', 'Orange Star', 'Persian Carpet Mix', 'Soleado'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#easy to grow#low maintenance#slopes#mass planting#pest resistant#deer resistant#long bloom time#groundcover#pollinator plant#native annual#walkway planting#butterfly friendly#bee friendly#non-toxic for horses#non-toxic for dogs#non-toxic for cats#wilson mg plant sale 2021#container plant#annual#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zinnia
    Species:
    haageana
    Family:
    Asteraceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico
    Distribution:
    South and Central America, the West Indies, the United States, Australia, and Italy
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Colorful
    Wildlife Food Source
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    Powdery mildew
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Achene
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Head
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Crown
    Flower Petals:
    7 - 20 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Tiny, single flowered up to 1" across.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Rough
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cutting Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Heat
    Insect Pests