Heirloom

Queeny Lime Orange

Zinnia elegans

a bunch of flowers that are in the grass

Wikimedia Commons via Zinnia elegans

Innovative addition to the Queeny series. Glowing, apricot blooms with a blush of lime and bright rose centers. A popular color combination suitable for market flowers and sophisticated design work. 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. Compared to Benary's Giant Salmon Rose, blooms are smaller with a lighter, more subtle coloring. Color gradient gives a unique three-dimensional appearance. Previously and widely known as 'Queen Lime Orange.' 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 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 Lime Orange in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Queeny Lime Orange · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-draining loam

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorApricot with lime and rose

Size2-3 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

Start a first round indoors in February–March (zone 7) or direct sow after last frost once soil hits 60°F. Sow again every 3–4 weeks through June to keep a continuous flush of blooms going into fall. Zinnias slow down and stop setting buds once daytime highs are consistently above 90°F, so a mid-June sowing will coast through that heat and hit peak production in September — often the best cut-flower window of the year. Stop successive sowings by early July; anything started later won't have time to reach the 75–85 day mark before frost.

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 Lime Orange 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

For fresh storage, keep Queeny Lime Orange cut flowers in a clean vase with cool water (65-72°F) in a cool room away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Change water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at an angle. Shelf life is typically 7-10 days. Preservation methods include: (1) Air drying—hang stems upside down in a warm, dry, dark location for 1-2 weeks; (2) Glycerin preservation—condition stems for 24 hours, then place in a glycerin solution for 2-3 weeks to maintain suppleness; (3) Pressing—place blooms between paper layers under weight for 2-3 weeks for floral arrangements or crafts.

History & Origin

Queeny Lime Orange 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

+Unique three-color gradient creates sophisticated visual depth and design appeal.
+Cut-and-come-again habit provides multiple harvests throughout the growing season.
+Smaller blooms ideal for detailed floral arrangements and market bouquets.
+Easy to grow with only 75-85 days to first flowers.
+AAS Winner status confirms superior performance and reliability.

Considerations

-Smaller 2-3.5 inch blooms may require more stems per arrangement.
-Semidouble and single percentages reduce consistency for high-end floral work.
-Lighter coloring less impactful than deeper Benary's Giant alternatives.

Companion Plants

Marigolds — French types like 'Petite Gold' in particular — are the most practical neighbor here: they deter aphids and thrips that cluster on zinnia stems, and their lower profile fills the gap under the taller zinnia canopy without competing for light. Sweet Alyssum draws in parasitic wasps (Braconidae and Chalcididae) that reduce caterpillar pressure, and it stays under 6 inches tall so it's not a fight. Black Walnut is the one to keep off the property entirely if you're growing zinnias nearby — juglone diffuses through the root zone and soil, and annuals like Zinnia elegans have little tolerance for it. Sunflowers look good in the catalog photo next to zinnias, but once they clear 4 feet they'll cast enough shade to stall bloom production.

Plant Together

Marigold

Repels aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters squash bugs

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Zinnia

Attracts ladybugs, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators

Petunias

Natural pest deterrent, repels aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs

Cosmos

Attracts beneficial insects and provides habitat for pest predators

Chives

Repels aphids and Japanese beetles with strong sulfur compounds

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic compounds suppress growth of nearby plants

Sunflower

Allelopathic effects can stunt growth of smaller flowering plants

Troubleshooting Queeny Lime Orange

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 down slightly

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal pathogen that thrives in warm days and cool, humid nights
Poor airflow from tight spacing under 12 inches

What to Do

1.Space plants at least 12–18 inches apart to let air move through
2.Spray affected foliage with a diluted solution of 1 tablespoon baking soda per gallon of water, or a neem oil product
3.Remove and trash the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them

Stems collapsing at soil level on seedlings shortly after germination or transplant

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi) — triggered by overly wet soil and poor drainage
Sowing too early into cold, slow-draining soil where moisture sits

What to Do

1.Direct sow only after soil temps reach 60°F consistently — zinnias don't need a head start and resent it
2.Water in the morning so the soil surface dries by evening
3.If starting indoors, use a sterile seed-starting mix and don't overwater; a heat mat set to 70–75°F speeds germination to the lower end of the 7–14 day range

Few or no blooms by day 85, with lots of leafy growth instead

Likely Causes

Excess nitrogen — common when planted in a recently heavily-amended bed
Insufficient sun — less than 6 hours of direct light significantly delays flowering
No deadheading, so the plant is putting energy into ripening seed on the first flush rather than pushing new buds

What to Do

1.Cut spent blooms back to a lateral leaf node — deadheading every 5–7 days keeps Queeny Lime Orange producing through frost
2.Move containers to a spot with 6+ hours of direct sun, or note the bed's light pattern for next season
3.Skip the extra fertilizer; a single side-dress of balanced compost at planting is plenty for this variety

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Queeny Lime Orange cut flowers last in a vase?▼

Queeny Lime Orange blooms typically last 7-10 days in a vase with proper care. To extend vase life, use clean water, change it every 2-3 days, re-cut stems at an angle, remove lower leaves, and keep flowers in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ethylene-producing fruits. Cooler temperatures significantly extend bloom longevity.

Is Queeny Lime Orange a good flower for beginners to grow?▼

Yes, Queeny Lime Orange is excellent for beginners. It's rated as an Easy difficulty level and is an AAS Winner known for reliable performance. The cut-and-come-again habit means multiple harvests from a single plant throughout the season, providing continuous blooms and encouraging new flower production.

Can I grow Queeny Lime Orange in containers?▼

While specific container requirements aren't documented, most cut flowers in the Queeny series can be grown in containers with adequate depth (at least 12 inches) and well-draining soil. Container-grown plants require consistent watering and regular feeding. Choose a sunny location with 6+ hours of direct sunlight for optimal bloom production and color intensity.

What makes Queeny Lime Orange unique compared to other varieties?▼

Queeny Lime Orange features a distinctive color gradient combining apricot, lime, and bright rose tones that creates a three-dimensional appearance. Blooms are mostly double and semidouble (2-3.5 inches) with lighter, more subtle coloring than similar varieties like Benary's Giant Salmon Rose. It's an AAS Winner, indicating superior garden performance and market-quality flowers.

When should I plant Queeny Lime Orange seeds and how long until flowers appear?▼

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date, or direct sow after the last frost. The variety reaches harvest in 75-85 days from planting. For continuous blooms throughout the season, stagger plantings every 2-3 weeks. Requires full sun (6+ hours daily) for best bloom production and color expression.

Is Queeny Lime Orange suitable for professional florists and market growers?▼

Yes, it's specifically noted as suitable for market flowers and sophisticated design work. The cut-and-come-again nature provides multiple harvests per plant, improving profitability. The unique three-dimensional color gradient and consistent double/semidouble blooms make it valuable for professional arrangements and wedding work.