Heirloom

Queeny Lemon Peach

Zinnia elegans

Wikimedia Commons via Zinnia elegans

Yet another brilliant addition to the Queeny series. Dreamy 2-3 1/2" blooms. A rosy center disk contrasts beautifully with creamy-lime petals which gradually darken to soft peach outer petals. Plants seem a bit more vigorous than the other Queeny series varieties. A mix of fully double, semidouble, and a small percentage of single flowers. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. Previously and widely known as 'Queen Lime Peach.' 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. AAS Regional (Northeast, West/Northwest) Winner.

Harvest

75-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 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 Queeny Lemon Peach in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Queeny Lemon Peach · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining soil

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorCreamy-lime fading to soft peach with rosy center disk

Size2-3 1/2"

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 every 3 weeks starting April 1 through June 15 in zone 7. Each planting gives you a fresh flush of blooms at 75-85 days, so staggering keeps cut flowers coming from midsummer through first frost rather than everything peaking at once and fading together. Zinnias handle heat well, but germination gets erratic when daytime highs push past 90°F — which happens reliably here by July — so June 15 is a reasonable cutoff for dependable stands.

If you're growing primarily for cut flowers rather than garden color, tighten that cadence to every 14 days. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date (around April 1 in zone 7) for the earliest possible harvest, then switch to direct sowing once soil temps are consistently above 60°F. That indoor round is worth the trouble — it buys you blooms in late June before the direct-sown plants catch up.

Complete Growing Guide

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 Lemon Peach 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 Queeny Lemon Peach cut flowers in a clean vase with fresh, cool water (65-72°F) and keep in a cool location away from direct sunlight. Change water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at an angle to extend vase life to 7-10 days. For preservation, air-dry fully open blooms by hanging upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks. Alternatively, press flowers between parchment paper under weight for 3-4 weeks to preserve their shape and color. Glycerin preservation is also effective: soak stems in a glycerin-water solution (1:2 ratio) for several days to create long-lasting, pliable flowers suitable for arrangements.

History & Origin

Queeny Lemon Peach 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

+Dreamy 2-3.5 inch blooms with stunning rosy-to-peach color gradient
+More vigorous growth than other Queeny series varieties
+Cut-and-come-again producer yields multiple harvests throughout season
+Easy to grow with only 75-85 days to flowering
+AAS Regional Winner demonstrates superior performance in trials

Considerations

-Variable flower forms include singles reducing overall double flower consistency
-Requires deadheading to maintain prolific blooming throughout season
-Lime-cream petals may fade in intense heat or harsh sun
-Mixed flower types may disappoint gardeners wanting uniformly double blooms

Companion Plants

Marigolds and Sweet Alyssum are the most practical companions for Queeny Lemon Peach zinnias. Tagetes patula marigolds confuse aphids and whiteflies with their scent, and since zinnias pull in the same insects, the combination gives beneficials — hoverflies, parasitic wasps — more reason to stay in the bed. Sweet Alyssum tops out around 6-8 inches while the zinnias climb to 3 feet, so they're not fighting for light; Alyssum also draws ground beetles that clean up soil-level pests. Yarrow and Borage round out the planting well — different bloom heights, different nectar chemistry, and a wider range of predatory insects overall.

The three to avoid — Black Walnut, Fennel, and Eucalyptus — all release allelopathic compounds into the soil or air that choke root development nearby. Black Walnut is the worst: its juglone toxin moves through the soil and can stunt or kill zinnias without any obvious cause until you trace it back to the tree. Fennel is sneakier. In our zone 7 Georgia gardens, it puts on 3-4 feet of growth fast in spring and will shade out young zinnia transplants while you're still thinking of it as a small herb. Put it at the far end of the property.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects

Lavender

Deters pests with strong fragrance and attracts pollinators

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies for pest control

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting main plant

Catmint

Repels ants, mosquitoes, and rodents while attracting beneficial pollinators

Yarrow

Improves soil health and attracts predatory insects that control garden pests

Borage

Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may improve disease resistance

Chives

Repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects with sulfur compounds

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of most flowering plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic compounds

Eucalyptus

Produces allelopathic oils that suppress growth of nearby plants

Troubleshooting Queeny Lemon Peach

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

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up mid-summer when nights cool slightly after heat

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — spores spread in warm, dry air with low airflow
Crowded spacing under 12 inches that traps humidity around foliage

What to Do

1.Cut out heavily affected stems at the base and bag them — don't compost
2.Thin plants to at least 12 inches apart to open up airflow
3.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda per gallon of water, weekly, until new growth looks clean

Seedlings collapsing at soil level within the first 10-14 days after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia species) — soil-borne fungi that thrive in cold, wet, poorly drained seed-starting mix
Overwatering combined with insufficient light causing slow drying between waterings

What to Do

1.Start fresh in sterile seed-starting mix — don't reuse last year's mix from the shed
2.Water from the bottom by setting trays in a shallow basin rather than watering overhead
3.Add a small fan on low to keep air moving around seedlings under lights

Flower buds forming but petals browning and rotting before fully opening, especially after a stretch of rainy days

Likely Causes

Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — a gray mold that moves fast on spent petals in humid conditions
Failure to deadhead, leaving old blooms on the plant to serve as entry points

What to Do

1.Deadhead every 5-7 days — don't let spent flowers sit on the plant
2.Pick off and trash any bud or bloom showing brown mush; Botrytis spreads petal-to-petal quickly
3.Water at the base only, in the morning, so foliage dries before nightfall

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Queeny Lemon Peach flowers last in a vase?▼

With proper care, Queeny Lemon Peach blooms last 7-10 days in a vase. Keep water fresh, change it every 2-3 days, re-cut stems at an angle, and store in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Remove lower leaves that touch the water to prevent bacterial growth and extend vase life.

Is Queeny Lemon Peach a good choice for beginning gardeners?▼

Yes, Queeny Lemon Peach is excellent for beginners. It's rated as an easy-to-grow variety with vigorous plants that produce abundant blooms throughout the season. As a cut-and-come-again flower, regular harvesting encourages more flowering, making it rewarding for new gardeners with minimal care requirements.

Can you grow Queeny Lemon Peach in containers?▼

Yes, Queeny Lemon Peach can be grown in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and ensure pots have drainage holes. Container-grown plants may need more frequent watering and feeding during the growing season compared to garden beds, but they perform well with regular deadheading.

What makes Queeny Lemon Peach unique compared to other Queeny varieties?▼

Queeny Lemon Peach stands out for its stunning color gradient: a rosy center disk contrasts beautifully with creamy-lime petals that gradually darken to soft peach outer petals. The plants are notably more vigorous than other Queeny series varieties, producing abundant 2-3.5" blooms with a mix of fully double, semidouble, and single flowers.

When should I plant Queeny Lemon Peach seeds?▼

Start Queeny Lemon Peach seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow outdoors after the last spring frost when soil has warmed. Plants need full sun (6+ hours daily) to thrive. Days to harvest is 75-85 days from transplant or direct sowing to first blooms.

How often should I harvest Queeny Lemon Peach flowers?▼

Harvest frequently—this is a cut-and-come-again variety that yields multiple cuts over the season when flowers are picked regularly. Cutting blooms at their peak encourages more flower production. Harvest in the morning when stems are fully hydrated for longest vase life.