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
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Creeping zinnia is a clumping, annual flowering plant in the Asteraceae (aster) family and native to northern and western Mexico. It typically grows 8 to 16 inches tall. The zinnia is named in honor of Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist.
Plant in full sun in well-draining to slightly dry clay or loam soils. Adding compost to the soil before planting will improve the plant’s quality. The plant has a high drought tolerance and is seldom damaged by deer.
Creeping zinnia blooms abundantly from summer to frost. Its typically single, daisy-like flowers attract butterflies, honey bees, and other pollinators. 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 cutting or cottage-themed gardens.
Quick ID
- Imbricated, obtuse involucral bracts
- Leaves are opposite, sessile, and narrow linear-lanceolate
- Leaves typically have one vein
- Heads are small with a single row of ray flowers
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
No significant problems. Some cultivars have shown excellent resistance to phytophthora. See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- '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. Resistant to phytophthora root rot. - 'Pette Land White'
White flowers - 'Profusion Orange'
Orange flowers - 'Star Gold'
12-18" with Orange blooms - 'White Star'
Low, mounded shape. 1'x1'. Resistant to phytophthora root rot.
- '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. Resistant to phytophthora root rot. - 'Pette Land White'
White flowers - 'Profusion Orange'
Orange flowers - 'Star Gold'
12-18" with Orange blooms - 'White Star'
Low, mounded shape. 1'x1'. Resistant to phytophthora root rot.
- 'Canary Bird'
- 'Canary Bird', 'Classic', 'Crystal White', 'Crystal Yellow', 'Orange Star', 'Pette Land White', 'Profusion Orange', 'Star Gold', 'White Star'
- Tags:
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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, honeybees, pollinators.
- 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 resistance to fungal diseases: powdery mildew, leaf spots, and Phytophthora.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
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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
