Queeny Formula Mix
Zinnia elegans
Wikimedia Commons via Zinnia elegans
Sturdy plants produce blooms in shades of rose, orange, peach, lemon, and lime. Mostly double and semidouble 2-3 1/2" blooms with a small percentage of singles. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. Previously and widely known as "Queen Series" and "Queen Mix." Over the years, as the breeder has developed new colors in the series, he has transitioned the series name from "Queen" to "Queeny." To respect his wishes, we have updated the product names accordingly.
Harvest
75-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Queeny Formula Mix in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Queeny Formula Mix · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
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 every 2 to 3 weeks from your last frost date through early summer — in zone 7 that's roughly April through the end of June. Zinnia seed germinates in 7-10 days in soil above 70°F, so don't rush early sowings; a late April direct sow will often catch up to a stressed March transplant. Stagger your sowings and you'll have continuous cutting stems from July through first frost rather than one big flush that's done by August.
Stop succession sowing about 75-85 days before your expected first frost date — that's the window Queeny Formula Mix needs to reach full bloom. Push sowings later than that and you'll get foliage but not many flowers before the season ends.
Complete Growing Guide
Sturdy plants produce blooms in shades of rose, orange, peach, lemon, and lime. Mostly double and semidouble 2-3 1/2" blooms with a small percentage of singles. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. Previously and widely known as "Queen Series" and "Queen Mix." Over the years, as the breeder has developed new colors in the series, he has transitioned the series name from "Queen" to "Queeny." To respect his wishes, we have updated the product names accordingly. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Queeny Formula Mix is 75 - 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). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Queeny Formula Mix reaches harvest at 75 - 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2-3 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Type: Achene.
Storage & Preservation
Store fresh Queeny Formula Mix blooms in a cool location; refrigeration extends vase life significantly. Keep stems in clean water at 35-40°F with humidity around 85-90%. Vase life typically lasts 7-10 days. For preservation: dry flowers by hanging upside-down in a dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks; press flowers between absorbent paper under weight for 4-6 weeks; or freeze blooms in water in ice cube trays for craft applications. Remove lower foliage before storage to prevent bacterial growth.
History & Origin
Queeny Formula Mix is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Sturdy plants reliably produce abundant blooms throughout the growing season
- +Cut-and-come-again variety yields multiple harvests from single planting
- +Wide color range includes rose, orange, peach, lemon, and lime
- +Mostly double and semidouble flowers create full, attractive bloom forms
- +Relatively quick maturity at 75-85 days makes succession planting feasible
Considerations
- -Small percentage of single flowers reduces consistency in double-bloom expectation
- -Mixed formula means some color variation may not suit specific designs
- -Requires deadheading to maintain prolific cutting and flowering performance
Companion Plants
Marigolds are the most practical neighbor here — they deter aphids and whiteflies that will otherwise cluster on zinnia stems, and the two plants share similar water and sun needs without crowding each other out. Sweet Alyssum planted at the feet of your zinnias draws in parasitic wasps and hoverflies, which keep soft-bodied pest populations in check without any input from you. Cosmos is a good row companion too; it blooms on a similar schedule, doesn't shade zinnias out, and the combination pulls in a wider range of pollinators than either plant manages on its own.
Black Walnut and Fennel are the ones to keep at a distance. Black Walnut produces juglone — a compound that persists in the soil beneath and around the tree and stunts a long list of ornamentals, zinnias among them. If you have one on the property, your zinnia beds need to be well outside its root zone, which can extend well beyond the canopy edge. Fennel is a subtler problem: it produces allelopathic compounds that suppress nearby plants and tends to drive off the beneficial insects you're counting on to visit your blooms.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and other pests while attracting beneficial insects
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps that control pests
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, also repel whiteflies
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and flies while attracting pollinators
Chives
Deter aphids, Japanese beetles, and carrot rust flies with their strong scent
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and pollinators without competing for nutrients
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs naturally
Oregano
Repels many insects and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill sensitive flowers
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of nearby plants
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic chemicals that suppress growth of most other plants
Troubleshooting Queeny Formula Mix
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually appearing mid-summer after plants are well established
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — the single most common zinnia problem, thrives when nights are cool and humid but days are dry
- Poor airflow from crowded spacing
What to Do
- 1.Strip and trash the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them
- 2.Make sure plants are spaced at least 12 inches apart; if they're already touching, thin aggressively
- 3.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water) every 7 days until the spread stops — do it in the evening to avoid leaf burn
Flower buds rotting or failing to open, often with gray fuzzy growth visible on petals during a stretch of wet weather
Likely Causes
- Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — a fungal rot that moves fast once it gets into spent flowers or damaged tissue
- Overhead watering that keeps petals wet overnight
What to Do
- 1.Deadhead spent blooms immediately — don't let them sit on the plant
- 2.Switch to drip or base watering; stop wetting the foliage
- 3.Remove and bag any visibly infected stems; the spores spread easily in wind
Ragged holes chewed through petals and leaves, mostly on young transplants or fresh growth
Likely Causes
- Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — they're drawn to zinnias in particular and will skeletonize petals in a day or two
- Caterpillars (various Lepidoptera larvae), especially in late summer
What to Do
- 1.Hand-pick Japanese beetles in the early morning when they're sluggish and drop them into soapy water
- 2.For caterpillar damage, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to affected foliage — it's effective and won't harm pollinators
- 3.Check plants every 2-3 days during peak beetle season (June through August) so populations don't get ahead of you
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Queeny Formula Mix flowers last in a vase?▼
Is Queeny Formula Mix a good choice for beginning gardeners?▼
Can you grow Queeny Formula Mix flowers in containers?▼
What do Queeny Formula Mix flowers look like?▼
When should I plant Queeny Formula Mix seeds?▼
How does the new Queeny Formula Mix name differ from the Queen Series?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.