Heirloom

Purple Queen

Agrostemma githago

Photo: Internet Archive Book Images · Wikimedia Commons · (No restrictions)

Silky, speckled, 1-2" blooms grow in sprays on willowy gray stems. Easy-to-grow plants prefer cool growing conditions.

Harvest

70-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

2-3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Purple Queen in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Purple Queen · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining, moderate fertility

WaterRegular—approximately 1 inch per week, consistent moisture preferred

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorPurple with speckled markings

Size1-2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Succession Planting

Direct sow Purple Queen every 3 weeks from April through early June in zone 7, and you'll get staggered bloom windows from roughly day 70 onward into late summer. Each sowing takes about 7–14 days to germinate, so the math works out to overlapping flushes rather than one big peak. Stop sowing by mid-June — once daytime highs are consistently above 85°F, germination gets patchy and seedlings struggle to establish before the heat really sets in.

If you want a very early start, indoor sowing in February or March gives you transplant-ready plugs for an April 15–May 1 outdoor move. Don't start them too early indoors — Agrostemma githago doesn't love being root-bound, and leggy seedlings transplant poorly. Four to five weeks indoors is plenty.

Complete Growing Guide

Silky, speckled, 1-2" blooms grow in sprays on willowy gray stems. Easy-to-grow plants prefer cool growing conditions. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Purple Queen is 70 - 85 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Purple Queen reaches harvest at 70 - 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1-2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Fruit is a capsule with numerous black, pitted seeds.

Color: Black. Type: Capsule.

Harvest time: Fall

Storage & Preservation

Fresh-cut Purple Queen flowers should be placed immediately in cool water (65-70°F) with commercial flower food, which extends vase life to 10-14 days. Keep arrangements away from ripening fruit, direct sunlight, and heating vents. Change water every 2-3 days and recut stems at a 45-degree angle to increase water absorption.

For longer-term preservation, dry flowers by hanging stems upside-down in a warm (65-75°F), dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks until petals feel papery. Dried Purple Queen flowers retain their speckled coloring and add texture to dried arrangements for months or even years. Alternatively, press individual blooms between parchment paper in a heavy book for 3-4 weeks to preserve them for craft projects or herbals. Store dried materials in airtight containers with silica gel in cool, dark conditions.

History & Origin

Purple Queen is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Origin: Europe

Advantages

+Silky speckled petals create elegant visual interest in cut flower arrangements
+Willowy gray stems provide natural, graceful height without additional support structures
+Easy cultivation makes Purple Queen ideal for beginner gardeners and children
+Cool-season preference means reliable blooms in spring and fall gardens
+Relatively quick 70-85 day maturity allows multiple succession plantings per season

Considerations

-Toxicity concerns limit use in homes with children or pets present
-Sparse foliage on stems may require companion planting for fuller garden appearance
-Self-seeds aggressively, potentially becoming invasive in permissive garden settings
-Requires consistent cool conditions; heat stress causes premature flowering and reduced bloom quality

Companion Plants

Sweet Alyssum is probably the most practical companion here — it stays low (6–8 inches), doesn't compete for light, and draws in parasitic wasps that prey on aphids and whiteflies. Marigolds pull similar duty through their root secretions, which suppress soil nematodes, and their scent genuinely disrupts the host-finding behavior of some flying pests. Caladiums, Impatiens, and Ferns fit naturally in a mixed border because they're content in the shade cast by taller plants, leaving Purple Queen to hold the full-sun column without a fight — the layering is functional, not just decorative.

Skip Sunflowers and Eucalyptus entirely. Sunflowers are allelopathic — compounds released from their roots and decomposing litter actively suppress nearby annuals — and a 6-foot sunflower will shade out a 2–3 foot plant before you notice the damage. Eucalyptus works through the same mechanism. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, Black Walnut is the subtler problem: juglone can persist in the soil for years after a tree is removed, so "there used to be a walnut there" is reason enough to pick a different bed.

Plant Together

Marigold

Repels nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Caladium

Similar shade and moisture requirements, complementary foliage colors

Impatiens

Thrives in similar partial shade conditions and adds contrasting flower colors

Begonia

Compatible growing conditions and provides textural contrast with similar care needs

Coleus

Similar shade tolerance and moisture needs, creates colorful foliage combinations

Ferns

Share preference for moist, shaded areas and provide structural contrast

Sweet Alyssum

Acts as living mulch and attracts beneficial insects for pest control

Torenia

Similar shade and water requirements with complementary purple and white blooms

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including Purple Queen

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic compounds inhibit growth of nearby plants

Sunflower

Competes aggressively for nutrients and water, may overshadow smaller plants

Troubleshooting Purple Queen

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Seedlings collapse at soil level, stems look pinched or water-soaked just below the surface

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal rot triggered by overwatering or poor drainage
Sowing too densely, which traps moisture and cuts airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Don't water again until the top half-inch of soil is dry — Agrostemma githago hates sitting wet
2.Thin seedlings to at least 2 inches apart as soon as they have their first true leaves, even if it hurts
3.If starting indoors, use a sterile seed-starting mix and bottom-water only; avoid misting the stems

Leaves developing gray, powdery coating starting on upper leaf surfaces, usually mid-season

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe spp.) — common in humid summers with warm days and cool nights
Crowded spacing that restricts airflow, especially in shaded spots

What to Do

1.Space plants the full 12–18 inches apart at planting; they won't fill in the gaps gracefully if you crowd them
2.Spray affected foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) weekly
3.Pull and trash any heavily infected stems — powdery mildew spreads fast once it's established

Plants stunted and pale, not reaching expected 2–3 foot height by week 8, lower leaves yellowing evenly

Likely Causes

Nitrogen deficiency from poor or sandy soil with low organic matter
Root competition from a nearby aggressive feeder like Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), which releases juglone through its roots and leaf litter

What to Do

1.Side-dress with a balanced granular fertilizer (10-10-10) at 1 tablespoon per plant, worked lightly into the soil
2.If planted within 50 feet of a black walnut, relocate — juglone toxicity won't resolve with fertilizer
3.Amend the bed with 2–3 inches of compost before next season's sowing

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Purple Queen take to grow from seed to bloom?▼

Purple Queen reaches maturity in 70-85 days. If you start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, you'll have blooming plants ready to transplant outdoors just as frost danger passes. This timing allows blooms to appear by mid-to-late summer in most regions. For continuous flowers, sow seeds every 3 weeks through early summer.

Is Purple Queen good for beginners?▼

Yes, absolutely. Purple Queen is an easy-to-grow heirloom that tolerates neglect better than many ornamental flowers. It doesn't require fussy fertilizing, resists most common pests and diseases, and adapts to various soil types. The main beginner consideration is that its light-dependent seeds need proper sowing technique—don't cover them completely with soil.

Can you grow Purple Queen in containers?▼

Yes, Purple Queen grows well in containers, though spacing becomes more important. Use a 10-12 inch pot with drainage holes filled with quality potting mix. Space one plant per pot to ensure adequate air circulation. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering than in-ground plants, and they benefit from consistent deadheading to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season.

When should I plant Purple Queen?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, or direct sow outdoors after frost danger passes when soil temperatures reach 65°F. In mild climates (zones 8-10), you can also sow seeds in late summer for fall and early winter blooms. Purple Queen thrives in cool conditions, so avoiding mid-summer sowings in hot climates ensures better germination and stronger plants.

Why isn't my Purple Queen blooming?▼

The most common cause is insufficient light—Purple Queen needs at least 4-6 hours of direct sun daily. Too much nitrogen fertilizer also suppresses blooming in favor of foliage growth. If plants are leggy, pinch them back at 6-8 inches tall to encourage branching and flower production. Consistent deadheading also ensures the plant focuses energy on new blooms rather than seed development.

How do I get longer-lasting cut flowers from Purple Queen?▼

Harvest in early morning when stems are fully hydrated, cutting just above a leaf node with sharp tools. Immediately place stems in cool water with flower food, removing all foliage below the waterline. Change the water every 2-3 days and recut stems at a 45-degree angle. Properly conditioned Purple Queen blooms last 10-14 days—longer than many heirloom varieties.