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

Growing Zinnia acerosa:
Desert Zinnia

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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' high and 1.5' wide.
Flowers: White rays with yellow, aging to brown, disk flowers.
Bloom: Spring, then again after summer rains arrive, even into fall.
Fruit: Seeds.
Leaves: Dull green, narrow, stiff, with a pointed tip.
Stems: Green and herbaceous with a woody base.
Roots: A deep taproot makes transplanting difficult.
Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and bees. The seeds in fall attract birds. Young plants are browsed by rabbits.
Toxic / Danger: The plant is 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.
Water once established: Monthly. Do not overwater.
Soil: Well drained, dry, pH 5.6-8.5 (acidic to alkaline).
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, xeric garden.

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



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Zinnia acerosa: Desert Zinnia - flowers

Zinnia acerosa: Desert Zinnia

Latest update: January, 2019
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