Sanvitalia (genus, creeping zinnias)

Japanese name: サンビタリア
Scientific name: Sanvitalia

[Overview]
An annual, perennial or subshrub.
Even the perennial types are treated in Japan as annuals sown in spring or autumn.
The stems branch freely.
The leaves are simple and opposite, linear to obovate, with soft hairs on the upper surface.
The leaves on the upper part of the stem are sessile.
Flower heads are borne at the stem tips; the ray florets around the edge, about 5–20 in number, are orange, or yellow to white, and the tubular florets in the center are brown to dark purplish brown.
The fruit is an achene.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by stem cuttings.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained, airy place and slightly alkaline soil.
It is susceptible to cold and excess moisture.
For potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil surface has dried; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient except when sunny weather continues and the soil becomes dry.
Too much fertilizer makes it leggy and weak, so for plants in the ground nothing is particularly needed other than basal fertilizer; for potted plants, during the growing period apply slow-release chemical fertilizer with equal amounts of the three components once a month, or give diluted liquid fertilizer once every 10 days to 2 weeks.
Fertilizer high in nitrogen produces only leaves and poor flowering.
Pests and diseases include powdery mildew and aphids.

[Notes]
Plants distributed under the name Sanvitalia speciosa (Sanvitalia speciosa) are thought to be a species of Melampodium, because this scientific name is an invalid name (not a formal scientific name) and because of features such as the tubular florets and involucral bracts.

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