Creeping zinnia: Flowering time, location & winter hardiness
Creeping zinnia looks like a miniature version of the sunflower. Due to the long flowering period, you can enjoy the bright colours for several months.
Whether as ground cover in beds or on graves, in container plantings or in balcony boxes: the undemanding and low-maintenance creeping zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens) is excellently suited for all these uses. In this article, you will learn more about the characteristics and the correct way to cultivate this bedding and balcony plant.
Contents
Creeping zinnia: Origin and properties
The bee-friendly creeping zinnia is also known as miniature sunflower and belongs to the daisy family (Asteraceae). Mexico and Guatemala are considered the home of this annual, herbaceous plant. The growth habit of creeping zinnia is bushy and compact with low, creeping shoots. The plants reach a height of 10 to 20 cm and a width of about 20 to 40 cm. Their hairy shoots are strongly branched at the base and thus form dense cushions. The small, entire-edged leaves are also slightly hairy and sit opposite on the stems. Their shape is elongated oval to ovate. The flower heads are composed of yellow to orange outer ray florets and greenish-yellow to brownish tubular florets in the centre. When creeping zinnia is in flower from July to October, it attracts numerous insects. After the flowering period, small closed fruits are formed. Creeping zinnia is not hardy in our area.
The most beautiful varieties
There are several varieties of the creeping zinnia that differ mostly in small details but not in their general appearance. We present a few of them in the following section.
- Sanvitalia procumbens ˈSunvy Trailingˈ: This early-flowering variety grows to about 20 cm tall and bears bright yellow flowers with green-yellow centres above the dark green foliage. The growth is semi-deciduous. ˈSunvy Trailingˈ proves particularly suitable as a ground cover.
- Sanvitalia procumbens ˈSuperbiniˈ: The popular cultivar grows rather bushy and erect and reaches a height of up to 30 cm.
- Sanvitalia procumbens ˈGold Carpetˈ: This cultivar also belongs among the early-flowering varieties, and forms dense flowering carpets 15 – 20 cm high.
- Sanvitalia procumbens ˈMandarinˈ: A distinguishing feature of this variety is the black-brownish centre of the orange-yellow flowers. Their ray florets are partly slightly curled towards the centre. The growth height of ˈMandarinˈ is 20 – 30 cm.
Creeping zinnia: location and sowing
Warm, sunny locations with dry to fresh soils are best suited to creeping zinnia. In warm places, the plants also thrive in light partial shade, although they may produce slightly fewer flowers in such conditions. A moderately nutrient-rich soil with good permeability is also advantageous, as the bedding and balcony plant does not tolerate waterlogging. After the last frost, the “miniature sunflowers” can be planted outdoors without any problem. If several specimens are used, you should keep a planting distance of at least 20 cm. Creeping zinnia should not be planted any deeper that it was in the pot.
If you want to sow this plant in the daily family, you can start growing it indoors from March onwards. The procedure for sowing creeping zinnia is described in detail below.
A dense, ground-covering cushion can be achieved by planting at least five plants together. In large containers, creeping zinnia works very well in plant arrangements. In this case Sanvitalia procumbens should be placed at the edge of the container because of its low height and partly drooping shoots. Creeping zinnia also looks great in a balcony box.
To prevent excess water from accumulating in the planters, they should have a drainage system and ideally have a 3 cm high drainage layer of expanded clay. A high-quality, nutrient-rich and permeable potting soil should be used for filling. Our Plantura Organic Flower Compost, for example, is very suitable for this because of the added broken expanded clay, which prevents excessive moisture in the substrate. The quality compost and fertiliser in our soil completely covers the average nutrient requirements of creeping zinnia in the first 2 to 3 months.
- Perfect for all flowering plants in garden beds & pots
- For beautiful blossoms & healthy plant growth
- Peat-free & organic soil: CO2-saving composition
Important care tips
Creeping zinnia is very easy to care for overall. The plant needs a moderate amount of water and should be watered thoroughly – always when the top 3 cm of the substrate is dry. After the nutrients from the potting soil have been used up, i.e. after about 3 months, creeping zinnia should be supplied with a liquid fertiliser for flowers and balcony plants every 2 to 3 weeks. For plants growing in beds, a long-term fertiliser granulate for flowers is more suitable, which only needs to be applied twice over the vegetation phase. Regularly removing parts of the plant that have withered does no harm, but creeping zinnia will reliably flower again even without this step.
- Perfect for all flowers & balcony plants
- Liquid fertiliser for a lush blossom throughout the season
- Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly
Is creeping zinnia infested by slugs and snails? You do not have to worry about the slugs and snails in your garden pouncing on the pretty bedding and balcony plant, because their interest in creeping zinnia does not seem to be particularly great.
Is creeping zinnia hardy?
Creeping zinnia is not sufficiently hardy in this country, as it can withstand temperatures only slightly below zero. As it is an annual plant, however, winter hardiness plays a subordinate role anyway.
Propagation of Sanvitalia procumbens
The most suitable method for the propagation of Sanvitalia procumbens is sowing from seed. To be able to harvest your own seeds, you will need to leave at least a couple of flowerheads. In autumn, the ripe seeds of creeping zinnia can be harvested and stored in a cool, dry place over the winter. Finally, growing indoors can be started from the beginning of March. Here is what you need to do:
- Pre-growing indoors from the beginning of March
- First fill seed trays or pots with sowing soil
- Scatter seeds and cover only about 0.5 cm with soil
- The substrate should always be kept moist
- Germination time about 1 – 2 weeks at 18 °C
- Prick out seedlings once they have reached 2 – 3 cm in height
- Plant outdoors from mid-May
Tip: By propagating cuttings, several new specimens can be obtained from one plant. This is particularly worthwhile if they are grown in advance and propagated by cuttings in late spring.
Is creeping zinnia poisonous?
There are no reports of toxic effects of creeping zinnia, which is why the ornamental plant can be classified as harmless to humans and animals. Nevertheless, it is not a plant intended for consumption, so it is generally not advised to eat any parts of the plant.
Another beautiful addition to your own garden, balcony or terrace is the sticky catchfly (Silene viscaria). In our article, we have listed the most beautiful varieties and explain, among other things, in which location it feels most at home.
