• Photo of Sanvitalia procumbens (Sanvitalia procumbenss)

Plant Profile: Sanvitalia procumbens

Taxonomy: Sanvitalia procumbens

Names

Creeping Zinnia, Dwarf Sunflower, Gold Trim Floral, Mexican Creeping Zinnia, Miniature Sunflower

  • Photo of Sanvitalia procumbens (Sanvitalia procumbenss)

Phonetic Spelling:san-vi-TAY-lee-uh pro-KUM-benz

Genus:Sanvitalia

Species:procumbens

Family:Asteraceae

Creeping Zinnia is a low-growing annual that spreads through its stems, creating a mat that can reach heights of 6 inches and widths of up to 18 inches. Its striking flowers, resembling sunflowers, measure about 3/4 inch in diameter and display vibrant shades of yellow to yellow-orange, accented by a dark purple-brown center disk. This plant boasts an extended blooming season, lasting from summer until the first frost.

The common name "Creeping Zinnia" is derived from its leaves, which bear a resemblance to those of traditional zinnias.

This plant thrives in its natural environment, which consists of rocky, arid hills.

However, it does not transplant easily; therefore, it is best to sow the seeds directly into the garden or container where they will grow.

Sanvitalia procumbens Feature Summary

Sanvitalia procumbens Image Gallery

Tags

#drought tolerant
#low maintenance
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Sanvitalia procumbens Feature Summary

Flowers
Yellow-orange ray flowers and brown-purple central disk flowers form showy heads that resemble sunflowers and bloom from early summer to frost.
Purple/Lavender
Gold/Yellow
Brown/Copper
Orange
Whole Plant Traits
Annual
Ground Cover
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Wet
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
2a
2b
3a
3b
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
High Organic Matter
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Border
Mass Planting
Container
Patio
Walkways
Slope/Bank

Sanvitalia procumbens Attributes

Sanvitalia procumbens: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mexico, Guatemala

Sanvitalia procumbens: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Sanvitalia procumbens: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Sanvitalia procumbens Flowers

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Description

Yellow-orange ray flowers and brown-purple central disk flowers form showy heads that resemble sunflowers and bloom from early summer to frost.

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Orange
filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Sanvitalia procumbens: Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Sanvitalia procumbens Whole Plant Traits

Sanvitalia procumbens: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Sanvitalia procumbens: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Sanvitalia procumbens Cultural Conditions

Sanvitalia procumbens: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Sanvitalia procumbens: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Sanvitalia procumbens: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Sanvitalia procumbens: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
2a
thermostat
2b
thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Sanvitalia procumbens: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Sanvitalia procumbens Leaves

Sanvitalia procumbens: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Sanvitalia procumbens Stem

Sanvitalia procumbens: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Sanvitalia procumbens Landscape

Sanvitalia procumbens: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Sanvitalia procumbens: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Sanvitalia procumbens: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Sanvitalia procumbens: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland