Creeping zinnia

Sanvitalia procumbens

In other languages: Sanvitalia (Nederlands) · Sanvitalie (Français)

Creeping zinnia comes from Mexico and Guatemala and is a low, creeping annual from the daisy family. It forms a dense mat only 10–20 cm high that spreads up to 40 cm, with small oval leaves. From June to October the plant is covered in small, daisy-like yellow flowers with a dark brown to almost black centre, which recall a miniature sunflower. It is easy, flowers persistently, is drought tolerant and attracts bees. You use it as ground cover in the sun, in pots and window boxes, or over the edge of a hanging basket.

Updated on 9 October 2026

Light
Full sun
warm and bright
Moisture
Dry to normal
no wet feet
Legal basis
Sand, loam or clay
any pH
Hardiness
down to 0 °C
protect in harsh winters
Size
0.15 m
tall, 0.4 m wide
Flowering
June–October

Key facts
Height	0.15 m
Native to Belgium	No, planted
Good for bees, butterflies and birds	Yes, for bees
Poisonous to people and pets	Not known to be poisonous
Flowering	June–October

Identify

Creeping zinnia: how do you recognise it?

Habit: Low, creeping or trailing plant 10–20 cm high and 40 cm wide, with finely branching stems.
Leaves: Small, oval to lance-shaped, 2–5 cm long, opposite, dark green and slightly rough.
Flowers: Small, daisy-like, 2–2.5 cm, with yellow to orange-yellow ray florets around a dark centre, from June to October.
Colour: Golden yellow to orange with a dark brown to almost black centre.
Roots: Shallow and fibrous; it dislikes being transplanted.

Flowering: June–October · Sowing: March–May · Plants: May–June

In your garden

Why grow it?

Flowers non-stop from June to October with small yellow flowers with a dark centre.
Drought tolerant and undemanding, ideal for sunny, dry spots.
An excellent ground cover that quickly covers the soil and suppresses weeds.
Pretty in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets, where the stems trail over the edge.
The flowers attract bees.

Creeping zinnia: where does it grow best?

Full sun for rich flowering; in partial shade it becomes sparse.
Free-draining, poor to ordinary soil: sand, loam or clay, acid to chalky. In wet soil it rots.
Dry to normally moist; let the soil dry out between waterings.
A warm, open spot; it tolerates wind and heat well.
Plant 25–30 cm apart or four plants in a 30 cm pot.

Light: Sun
Soil type: Sand, loam or clay
Acidity: Not fussy
Moisture: Dry or normal
Size: 0.15 m tall, 0.4 m wide
Hardiness: Frost tender: plant out after the last frost (mid-May)

Goes well with

Lobelia: Little blue flowers that contrast nicely with yellow.
Verbena: Purple or pink heads in the same sun and drought.
Petunia: Large trumpets next to the small yellow flowers.
Ornamental grasses: Fine stems and plumes with a playful contrast to the low mat.

Maintenance

Creeping zinnia: when and how to plant it?

Plant in May–June.

Sow indoors in March–April, or in place from May; transplant the young plants with care, because it dislikes root disturbance.
Sow two or three seeds per small pot in seed compost; cover the seed lightly at most.
Plant out after mid-May, when night frost is no longer expected, in a sunny spot with free-draining soil.
Set the plants at the same depth as in the nursery pot and disturb the root ball as little as possible.
Keep 25–30 cm between plants and firm the soil.
Water straight away and after that only when the soil feels dry.

Care

Water: Moderate: let the soil dry out between waterings. In pots in warm weather regularly, in the border rarely.
Feeding: Sparingly: one light dose of flowering-plant feed every four weeks is enough. Too much feed gives lots of leaf and few flowers.
Faded flowers: Removing them is not strictly needed; to keep the plant tidy, cut off faded flowers.
Light trim: Shorten long, floppy stems in midsummer so it branches again and forms new flowers.
Repotting: An annual; use fresh compost every year.

Tip: Sow indoors in March–April or in place in May and transplant as little as possible, because it dislikes root disturbance. Plant in full sun in free-draining soil and water and feed sparingly.

Creeping zinnia: when to prune it?

When: It is not really pruned; in July or August just trim long, floppy stems lightly.

How:

Shorten long, floppy stems by half in midsummer; it regrows and keeps flowering.
Cut off faded flowers or brown parts if you want to keep the plant tidy.
Remove the dead plant after the first frost.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Sowing (indoors): In March–April at 18–21 °C: sow thinly, cover the seed lightly and keep it moist. It germinates in 1–2 weeks. Plant out after mid-May, disturbing the roots as little as possible.
Sowing (outdoors): In May, directly in place: sow thinly in the sunny spot and thin to 25–30 cm between plants.

Creeping zinnia: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to 0 °C: protect in harsh winters.

Not hardy: it tolerates at most a light frost around 0 °C and dies off in autumn.
Clear the plants in October and put them on the compost heap.
Sow again from seed next spring; you can collect it yourself from the dry flower heads.

Diseases and pests

Powdery mildew: White powdery coating on the leaves in humid, close weather. Give the plants space, water at the base and cut off affected parts.
Root rot: Limp, yellowing plant in wet soil. Ensure free-draining soil and water less.
Slugs: Young plants are eaten. Collect slugs in the evening or set slug traps.
Aphids: Small insects on young shoots and buds. Rinse off with water or a mild soap solution.
Poor flowering: Too much shade or too much feed gives lots of leaf and few flowers. Put it in the sun and feed lightly.

Through the year

March: Sow indoors at 18–21 °C.
April: Sow and harden off by day.
May: Plant out after mid-May or sow in place.
June: First flowers. Water sparingly.
July: Full flower. Shorten long, floppy stems.
August: Flowering. Water in dry weather.
September: Flowering. Collect seed if wanted.
October: Last flowers. Clear the plants.

Use

Good for wildlife

Bees: Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

You and this species

Did you know?

The plant is named after the Italian botanist Federico Sanvitali (18th century).
Despite the name ‘creeping zinnia’ it is not a true zinnia; the two are, however, close relatives.
What looks like a single flower is a flower head of many small florets, typical of the daisy family.

Garden plants · All species