How to Grow Sanvitalia Plants

Guide to Growing Creeping Zinnia and Golden Stars

Members of the Sanvitalia plant genus are hardy or half hardy annuals that reach about 15 cm (6 inches) in height.

Sanvitalia plants have a prostate nature. Theycome into bloom from summer to the first months of autumn.

Sanvitalia
Sanvitalia by Suneko; Creative Commons.

Leaves are oval shaped, and flowers are orange or yellow with brown centres.

Sanvitalia plant
Sanvitalia by knoxilla.

Some of the common names for Sanvitalia include Creeping Zinnia and Golden Stars.

Commonly Grown Sanvitalia Species

Sanvitalia procumbens

Sanvitalia procumbens Photograph

Sanvitalia procumbens at del jardín botánico de Gijónby Manuel M. V..

Sanvitalia sunbini

Mexican Zinnia by Forest and Kim Starr.

Sanvitalia Plant Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Creeping Zinnia: Yellow; Alberts; Mexican. Golden Stars. Creeping sanvitalia
Life Cycle: Half hardy annual, hardy annual.
Height: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm).
Spread: 4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 cm).
Native: Central and Northern America.
Growing Region: Zones 2 to 10. UK Hardiness: H5, hardy in severe winters.

Blooms: Summer and autumn.
Flower Details: Yellow, gold, orange. Daisy-like ray and disc florets. Notched tips.
Foliage: Oval to lanceolate.

Sow Outside: Surface. Before the last frost (cooler areas) or in autumn (warm areas). Spacing 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 cm).
Sow Inside: Use peat pots. Germination time: one to three weeks in the light. Temperature 70°F (21°C). Seven or eight weeks in advance. Transplant outdoors in the last month of spring.

Requirements: Full sunlight. Good drainage. Sandy soil. Light soil. Can survive in dry soils. Light feed. Water in prolonged dry periods.
Family: Asteraceae (Compositae).
Closely related species: Edelweiss; Marigold; Gerbera Daisy; Mountain daisy; and Yarrow Plant

How to Grow and Care for Creeping Zinnia and other Garden Sanvitalia Plants

The seeds of Creeping Zinnia plants and other Sanvitalia Genus members should be sown on the surface before the last frost of spring.

The seeds should be spaced at about 20 cm (8 inches) apart.

Ideally, they like to grow in sunny parts of the garden with good drainage.

Sanvitalia plants prefer a soil that is light and sandy.

If starting indoors first, then try to sow Creeping Zinnia seeds in peat pots about seven weeks before putting outdoors, at the end of spring.

The Sanvitalia seeds will require light and a temperature of 20 to 21°C (68 to 70°F) to germinate. This should take about two to three weeks.

Plants are low maintenance. Provide them with occasional water during dry spells.

You may wish to grow in containers if you need to start the seeds off indoors, as they have a low success rate when transplanted outdoors.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Sanvitalia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Wormwood, Aruncus dioicus, and Ammobium plants.