Zinnia acerosa

Zinnia acerosa is a low-growing perennial flowering plant native to the Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. Common names include desert zinnia, wild zinnia, white zinnia, and spinyleaf zinnia. It is a popular landscape plant in the southwest due to its low water use and long bloom period. The flowers also serve as a food source for southwestern butterflies.

Zinnia acerosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Zinnia
Species:
Z. acerosa
Binomial name
Zinnia acerosa
(DC.) A.Gray
Synonyms[1]
  • Diplothrix acerosa DC.
  • Crassina acerosa (DC.) Kuntze

In the United States, Zinnia acerosa grows in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, and Texas.[2] In Mexico, it has been found in Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí.[3]

Zinnia acerosa is a small, branching subshrub up to 16 cm (6.4 inches) tall. Leaves are very narrow, sometimes needle-shaped, up to 2 cm (0.8 inches) long. The plant produces flower head one per stem, each head with 4-7 yellow or white ray florets surrounding 8-13 yellow or purple disc florets.[3][4]

References
  1. The Plant List, Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A.Gray
  2. Biota of North America Program, 2014 county distribution map
  3. Flora of North America, Zinnia acerosa (de Candolle) A. Gray, 1852. Desert or shrubby or southern zinnia
  4. Conabio Zinnia acerosa (DC.) A. Gray Zinia del desierto (sugerido), ficha informativa in Spanish with photo plus description and ecological information
Old Zinnia acerosa plant about 1' tall past blooming period in the Tucson Sonoran Desert. Many old zinnias in the desert acquire this interesting gnarly form after many years in the desert.


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