Do I need to deadhead these?

Deadheading helps keep the plant tidy and encourages more blooms throughout the season.

Can I grow these in pots?

Yes, they are excellent for containers due to their compact, mounding habit.

Plant guide

Narrowleaf zinnia.

Zinnia angustifolia

Pronounced ZIN-ee-uh ang-gus-tih-FOH-lee-uh

Also known as Narrowleaf Zinnia, Little star

Zinnia angustifolia — Photo by Alejandro Gómez Maya (CC BY) via gbif

This charming annual brings a splash of color to your garden with its petite, daisy like flowers. It is a tough little plant that handles heat and humidity with ease. You will love how it keeps blooming from summer until the first frost.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 12 to 18 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 9 to 11
Bloom time: Early summer to first frost

Care

Plant these in a spot that gets plenty of sun to keep them blooming their best. Water at the base to keep the foliage dry and prevent powdery mildew. Watch for wilting, which is your sign that they need a good drink.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage the plant to produce more flowers.
Repotting: Since these are annuals, you typically do not need to repot them.
Soil: Well draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.5
Temperature: 10 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, completes its life cycle in one season.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.

Safety

People: This plant is non toxic to humans.
Pets: This plant is considered non toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: The plant is safe for children, though the rough foliage might be slightly scratchy to touch.
Contact allergens: The rough, hairy stems and leaves can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: The pollen may trigger mild symptoms in those with severe seasonal allergies.
Edibility: While not toxic, these flowers are not typically consumed as food.

How to identify it

Narrow, lance shaped green leaves
Small, daisy like flower heads
Bushy and compact growth habit
Bright orange, yellow, or white petals

Height: 0.3 to 0.45m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.6m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: orange, yellow, white, 3 to 5cm

Problems to watch for

Aphids · Small insects that cluster on new growth and suck plant sap.

Check your narrowleaf zinnia from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring
Overwintering: This plant is an annual and will die with the first hard frost, so no winter care is needed.
In containers: They grow very well in pots at least 25 centimeters deep with good drainage.

Direct Sowing

Wait until the soil has warmed in spring.
Sow seeds about 0.5 centimeters deep.
Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge.

Plant these in full sun alongside other heat loving annuals for a long lasting summer display.

Grows well with

Marigold · They share similar water and light requirements while providing a nice color contrast.
Cosmos · These provide a taller, airy texture that complements the mounding habit of zinnia.

Similar species

Common Zinnia · A larger relative with broader leaves and more varied flower forms.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Zinnia
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Mexico and Central America
Conservation: This plant is not of conservation concern.

It grows in sunny, well drained open areas where it can quickly establish during the warm season.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: bedding plant, container plant, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 4/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need to deadhead these?: Deadheading helps keep the plant tidy and encourages more blooms throughout the season.
Can I grow these in pots?: Yes, they are excellent for containers due to their compact, mounding habit.

Where the name comes from

The genus name honors German botanist Johann Gottfried Zinn, while the species name means narrow leaved.

Good to know

It is often called the Mexican zinnia.
The narrow leaves are a key identifier for this species.
It thrives in hot, sunny conditions where other flowers might wilt.

Keep your narrowleaf zinnia growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on November 9, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.