How to Plant and Grow Creeping Zinnia

Although creeping zinnia sounds like it should resemble the colorful zinnia grown as a cutting flower, the two plants have little in common. Creeping zinnia hugs the ground and sprawls to create a colorful mat of yellow flowers and tough green foliage. It feels right at home in containers, rock gardens, and the front of a landscape border, and it loves to ramble around shrubs and perennials. Creeping zinnia begins blooming in early summer and continues flowering with gusto until the first frost. No need to deadhead this easy-care beauty; spent flowers naturally fall away and new blooms debut every few days.

Where to Plant Creeping Zinnia

 Plant creeping zinnia in a location that gets full sun and has well-draining soil that is acidic to slightly alkaline.

The tenacity of creeping zinnia makes it a superb container plant even for a deck in full sun, a blazing hot patio, or pool deck. Combine it with other plants that stand up to high heat, such as lantana, verbena, moss rose, globe amaranth, gazania, and pentas.

How and When to Plant Creeping Zinnia

Plant creeping zinnia in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. It does not transplant easily so it is best to use potted nursery plants, which are widely available in many varieties.

Dig a hole that is at least the size of the nursery pot or flat and has the same depth. Water the plants well in their pots and let them drain before placing them in the hole and backfilling with the original soil.

Space plants at least 12 to 14 inches apart. Some trailing varieties spread even more so make sure to give them sufficient room.

Creeping Zinnia Care Tips

This heat-loving plant does not require much to thrive, making it a truly easy-care annual.

Light

A location in full sun is best. Creeping zinnia will grow in part shade, but won't flower as profusely.

Soil and Water

Creeping zinnia grows best in average soil but tolerates a range of soil conditions, from dry, rocky soil to moderately moist soil rich in organic matter with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. However, good drainage is essential.

Especially in the early stages after planting, regular watering is important to encourage a strong root system. Once the plants are established, you can reduce watering but still keep it moderately moist and never let the soil dry out completely.

Temperature and Humidity

Long stretches of high heat and humidity don't deter creeping zinnia from unfurling new blossoms. As a native to Central America, creeping zinnia is made for hot summer weather but withers and dies when nighttime temperatures fall below 50 degrees F.

Fertilizer

Unlike other annuals with a long bloom period, creeping zinnia does not require a lot of fertilizer but prefers lean soil. If planted in fertile garden soil, it usually does not need fertilization at all. Potted plants, on the other hand, benefit from a monthly application of a slow-release all-purpose granular garden fertilizer. If the foliage starts looking yellowish, use a liquid fertilizer for a quick nutrient boost.

Pruning

Creeping zinnia does not require deadheading, as the flowers are self-cleaning—spent flowers get blown away or disintegrate, which adds to the low maintenance requirements for this plant. If stems get overly long in the latter part of the summer, you can clip them back to maintain a compact growth habit.

Potting and Repotting Creeping Zinnia

Use pots with large drainage holes and well-draining potting soil. Creeping zinnia is best paired with other heat-loving annuals in a container measuring 18 or 24 inches in diameter.

Keep in mind that potted plants need much more watering than plants in garden soil. In hot summer weather, they need to be watered daily, and in a heat wave even twice a day. This applies especially to hanging baskets, which dry out even faster.

Repotting won’t be necessary for this annual plant.

Pests and Problems 

Creeping zinnia is free of any serious pests and diseases. It is also deer-resistant.

How to Propagate Creeping Zinnia

 Many of the creeping zinnia varieties are protected by plant patents and thus their propagation is not legal. But even if the propagation of the plant is not prohibited, it usually does not make much sense to propagate creeping zinnia from cuttings. It is an annual in most climates so its life cycle ends with the onset of cold weather in the fall.

Types of Creeping Zinnia

'Sunbini'

Sanvitalia procumbens ‘Sunini’ is a cultivar of creeping zinnia with petite, bright yellow flowers on extremely heat-tolerant plants. It grows 6 to 12 inches tall and spreads 12 to 18 inches.

'Tsavo'

Sanvitalia procumbens 'Tsavo’ is a series with a trailing growth habit that spills over the edges of hanging baskets and containers. ‘Compact Yellow’ is a popular cultivar in the series, growing up to 20 inches high and spreading 20 inches or more.

'Talya'

Sanvitalia speciosa ‘Talya’ is a series that was developed for large prolific flowers and full or partial sun. The plant has a mounded habit of 6 to 8 inches tall and 12 to 14 inches wide. Varieties include ‘Talya Bright’ and ‘Talya Great Yellow’.

Creeping Zinnia Companion Plants

Globe Amaranth

Globe amaranth is a versatile annual that produces nearly nonstop flowers that make it an all-time favorite for beds, borders, and containers, where it attracts butterflies and takes the summer heat without missing a beat.

Gazania

Gazania is very easy to grow because of its extreme heat and drought tolerance. It has beautiful flowers stretching to 4 inches across and come in vibrant colors. It is most commonly grown as an annual.

Pentas

Pentas is a pollinator magnet that blooms all summer long, even during the hottest weather conditions. Blooms come in shades of pink, white, red, and lavender. This annual plant grows well both in the ground and in containers.