Creeping Zinnia

Creeping zinnia is not a true zinnia but a related member of the daisy family, named for its small zinnia-like blooms. Native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, it forms a dense, low carpet covered in cheerful flowers.

Each bloom has bright yellow or orange rays surrounding a dark purple-brown central cone, giving the look of a tiny sunflower or black-eyed Susan.

Tough, sun-loving, and drought-tolerant, it blooms nonstop from early summer to frost with almost no care, spilling attractively over container edges and walls.

• Habit: Low, spreading, mat-forming annual usually 4-8 in tall and 12-18 in wide.
• Flowers: Small (about 1 in) daisy-like blooms with golden-yellow or orange rays and a dark brown-purple central disk.
• Leaves: Small, oval, slightly hairy green leaves.
• Bloom: Profuse and continuous from summer to frost.
• Form: Trailing, making it a good spiller and groundcover.

Light: Full sun for best flowering and compact growth.

Water: Low to moderate; quite drought tolerant once established, though container plants need more frequent watering.

Soil: Well-drained soil; tolerates poor and sandy conditions.

Temperature: Loves heat; a warm-season annual sensitive to frost.

Feeding: Minimal feeding needed; light feeding sustains container plants.

Propagation: Grown easily from seed sown directly outdoors after frost or started indoors. It is largely self-cleaning and rarely needs deadheading.

Native to Mexico and the southwestern United States, where it grows in open, sunny, dry sites.

Grown worldwide as a warm-season annual for edging, containers, hanging baskets, and as a flowering groundcover, especially valued in hot, dry climates.

Ornamental: Excellent low edging, groundcover, and container 'spiller'; its dense flowering creates a carpet of color.

Pollinators: The daisy flowers attract bees and other small pollinators.

Low-maintenance landscaping: Heat and drought tolerance make it a great choice for water-wise and beginner gardens.