Family: Asteraceae
Zinnia peruviana (pua pihi, Peruvian zinnia) is an annual wildflower. It is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico and is found as far south as Venezuela and Argentina. It is a popular pollinator attractor and ornamental flower. It is also used in traditional Mexican medicine to alleviate diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pains. It is reported to be widely naturalized, including on the islands of Molokai, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and Hawai’i. The plant has shown invasive qualities in South Africa, threatening endangered plant species. It is also a weed in parts of America including Mexico and Ecuador, where it is native. The plant has an exceptional ability to spread given that it thrives in tropical climates, can grow up to elevations of 1000 meters and has wind dispersed seeds.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Elevation range exceeds 1000 m
- Widely naturalized, including on the Hawaiian Islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kahoolawe and Hawaii
- Disturbance weed
- A potential environmental weed in South Africa (may impact an endangered plant species)
- Possible skin allergen
- Tolerates many soil types
- Forms dense cover that may impact rare plants (South Africa)
- Produces wind-dispersed seeds
- Self-compatible
- Annual (reaches maturity in <1 year)
- Adapted to and dispersed along heavily disturbed corridors
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (lacks spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Non-toxic
- Ornamental
- Requires full sun
- Does not spread vegetatively
- Seedlings do not tolerate root disturbance
