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. 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 developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
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
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Dense; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Rough
Leaf size
1-3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Leaves are opposite, sessile, subclasping, linear to linear-lanceolate, entire, acute, base trucate to weakly subcordate; leaves to 1" wide with 1 midrib vein.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Head
Flower shape
Wheel
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
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.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Northern and western Mexico
Distribution
South and Central America, the West Indies, the United States, Australia, and Italy