Garden Oracle / Drought and Heat Tolerant Gardening / Tucson - Phoenix - Arizona - California

Growing Zinnia acerosa:
Desert Zinnia

social icons Facebook Pinterest Instagram

Description
Form: A mounding subshrub with a woody base and herbaceous stems that become woody from the bottom up with age.
Lifespan: Perennial.
Leaf retention: Evergreen but cold-deciduous.
Growth rate: Moderate to rapid.
Mature Size: 1' (30cm) high and 1.5' (45cm) wide.
Flowers: White ray florets surrounding yellow, aging to brown, disk florets.
Bloom: Spring, then again after summer rains arrive, even into fall.
Fruit: Each floret produces a dry, one-seeded fruit (cypsela) with attached hairs that allow wind dispersal.
Leaves: Dull green, narrow, stiff, with a pointed tip.
Roots: A deep taproot makes transplanting difficult.
Wildlife: The flowers attract butterflies and bees. The seeds attract birds. Young plants are browsed by rabbits.
Toxic / Danger: All parts of this plant are toxic.
Origin: Arizona to Texas, Utah and Mexico.

Cultivation and Uses
USDA hardiness zones: 6-10.
Heat tolerant: Yes.
Drought tolerant: Yes.
Sun: Full sun.
Soil: Well draining, dry, pH 5.6-8.5 (acidic to alkaline).
Water once established: Monthly. Do not overwater.
Prune: After the last frost, remove winter damage. Cut to the ground mid-winter every few years to rejuvenate.
Litter: Low.
Propagation: Seed, rootball division.
Uses: Ornamental, butterfly garden, low water (xeriscape) garden.

Comments
This plant is a member of the Daisy family (Asteraceae) and related to Zinnia grandiflora. The butterfly is a female Checkered White.



Do you have additional information or a different experience for these plants that you would like to share? Email info@GardenOracle.com. All contributions are welcome and appreciated.

Zinnia acerosa: Desert Zinnia - flowers

Zinnia acerosa: Desert Zinnia

Latest update: October, 2024
© 2008-2024 by GardenOracle.com