Consulta Plantas

Care of the plant Sanvitalia procumbens or Creeping zinnia

The genus Sanvitalia, family Asteraceae, includes 7 species of herbaceous plants distributed from the southwestern United States to South America. Some species are: Sanvitalia procumbens, Sanvitalia ocymoides, Sanvitalia fruticosa.

Common names: Creeping zinnia, Dwarf Sunflower, Gold Trim Floral, Mexican Creeping Zinnia, Miniature Sunflower. This species is native to Mexico and Guatemala.

They are perennial herbaceous plants with a creeping bearing that reach 15 cm (5.9") in height. They have oval, deep green leaves and opposite arrangement. The decorative flowers have a brown center and yellow or orange petals. They bloom during the summer.

They are used in rockeries, in pots and planters, to cover walls and slopes and to make floral decorations. They are ideal for Mediterranean coastal gardens.

Sanvitalia procumbens can grow in semi-shade, full sun or shade exposures. They resist the Mediterranean heat and occasional frosts.

The soil must be well drained: use a mixture of 75% garden soil and 25% coarse sand.

Water moderately, waiting until the soil has dried. They resist several days of drought.

Fertilize every 2 weeks with seaweed extract from mid-spring to mid-summer.

Prune excessively long stems to keep them compact.

They are very sensitive to overwatering that causes a rapid death of the plant.

They are propagated from seeds sown very shallowly in early spring in their final place or in late winter in the seedbed (transplanted in mid-spring).

Images of the plant Sanvitalia procumbens or Creeping zinnia