Creeping Zinnia Zinnia angustifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Creeping Zinnia:
- Phonetic Spelling
- ZIN-ee-ah an-gus-tih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
-
Narrow-leaf Zinnia or Mexican Zinnia, is a compact, bushy annual in the daisy family native to Mexico. It typically grows 8-16” tall on hairy, branching stems. It features a profuse summer to frost bloom of single, daisy-like, bright orange flowers that attract butterflies. Cultivars extend the available flower colors to include red, orange, yellow, pink, white, and bi-colors. Plant in a sunny location in well-draining to slightly dry clay or loam soils. Some addition of organic matter in the form of compost before planting will improve the quality of these plants. These showy plants have a high drought tolerance and are seldom damaged by deer. Plant them in mass in a pollinator garden, along a border or near a patio. They work well in containers or hanging baskets, lining a walkway or in a cutting or cottage themed garden.
Quick ID
- Imbricated, obtuse involucral bracts
- Opposite, sessile, narrow linear-lanceolate leaves
- Leaves typically 1-veined
- Heads small, single row white-yellow ray flowers
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Canary Bird'
Yellow flowers - 'Classic'
8-12" single blooms, spreading habit. Continuous flowering until frost. Ideal for hot, humid locations. - 'Crystal White'
Narrow leafed. Bushy, compact plant - 'Crystal Yellow'
Yellow flowers, 14" tall - 12" spread - 'Orange Star'
Orange daisy-like flowers - 'Pette Land White'
White flowers - 'Profusion Orange'
Orange flowers - 'Star Gold'
12-18" with Orange blooms - 'White Star'
Low, mounded shape. 1'x1'
- 'Canary Bird'
- 'Canary Bird', 'Classic', 'Crystal White', 'Crystal Yellow', 'Orange Star', 'Pette Land White', 'Profusion Orange', 'Star Gold', 'White Star'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Canary Bird'
Yellow flowers - 'Classic'
8-12" single blooms, spreading habit. Continuous flowering until frost. Ideal for hot, humid locations. - 'Crystal White'
Narrow leafed. Bushy, compact plant - 'Crystal Yellow'
Yellow flowers, 14" tall - 12" spread - 'Orange Star'
Orange daisy-like flowers - 'Pette Land White'
White flowers - 'Profusion Orange'
Orange flowers - 'Star Gold'
12-18" with Orange blooms - 'White Star'
Low, mounded shape. 1'x1'
- 'Canary Bird'
- 'Canary Bird', 'Classic', 'Crystal White', 'Crystal Yellow', 'Orange Star', 'Pette Land White', 'Profusion Orange', 'Star Gold', 'White Star'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zinnia
- Species:
- angustifolia
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern and western Mexico
- Distribution:
- South and Central America, the West Indies, the United States, Australia, and Italy
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought, Dry Soil, Black Walnut. Excellent disease resistance to fungal diseases such as powdery mildew and leaf spots.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 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:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- 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
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescence is a composite head on terminal elongated peduncles; heads small, to 1" in diameter; involucral bracts imbricated, broadly obtuse. Flowers are typically single, of limited color as well as have actinomorphic symmetry; ray flowers in one series, showy, conspicuous, to 6" long, white or yellow, reflexed with age; disc flowers yellow, prominent.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are opposite, sessile, subclasping, linear to linear-lanceolate, entire, acute, base trucate to weakly subcordate; leaves to 1" wide with 1 midrib vein.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Diseases
- Drought
- Dry Soil
