Mandarin Orange (Sanvitalia)
Latin Name: S. procumbens
Item #: 5051401
Difficulty:
Easy
Suitable for Small Pots
Yes
Attracts Butterflies:
Yes
Attracts Bees:
Yes
Sanvitalia (Creeping Zinnia)
Annual (6 in/15 cm)
CULTURE: A dependable underrated dwarf annual which loves full sun or some shade, is heat tolerant and requires well drained sandy soil. Use for a summer long semi-double flowered ground cover in rock gardens or hanging baskets. Sow indoors Feb. 15th to Apr. 1st or directly outdoors May 15th. Press seed into fine sandy soil and cover seed lightly. Make sure soil is well drained. Germinate seeds @ 75°F/24°C for 10 days. This species is sometimes hard to transplant tiny seedlings so it may be easier to sow several seeds into a 4 in/10 cm pot to avoid transplanting. Grow seedlings in a sunny indoor or outdoor location. Plants have dark green foliage which is covered with a host of tiny yellow or orange perpetually blooming tiny flowers from July until frost. Use B-Nine/Alar PGR every 7 days before May pot sales. Plants have some tolerance to powdery mildew, space transplants 5-6 in/13-15 cm apart to allow plenty of room for stems to creep and form an excellent ground cover for sunny, hot, dry locations. Tiny flowers have unique green centers.
