Queeny Lemon Peach Zinnia Seeds

Days to Maturity: 70 direct sow; 56 transplant

All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 2022

Queeny Lemon Peach is a half-hardy annual offering early summer through fall interest, typically blooming until the first frost. Extremely heavy blooming, this zinnia continuously sets 2- to 4-inch globe-shaped flowers. Uniquely colored, they emerge lemon yellow with a red eye and a dark peach center and shade beautifully to buff or light coral. Borne singly at the end of a branch, the flowers produce loads of nectar and attract butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, and other beneficial pollinators. The dramatic dahlialike blooms make brilliant, long-lasting cuts for bouquets, bright garnishes for salads, and lovely everlastings.

Big, vigorous, and healthy, Queeny Lemon Peach has a dense, upright, mounding habit of lanceolate leaves and a fast growth rate. A classic garden favorite, zinnia is shown to best effect grouped or massed in beds, borders, and patio pots.

Extremely easy to grow from seed, zinnias prefer full sun and rich, organic, well-drained loam or soil, raked to a fine tilth. Although zinnias are low maintenance, pinching young plants promotes a more compact, bushier plant and deadheading spent flowers keeps zinnias blooming. They are heat and drought tolerant and deer and aphid resistant.

Direct sow zinnia seed after the last frost date, once the soil has warmed and temperatures are consistently 68°F and above, or start seeds indoors, acclimatize sprouts for 10 to 15 days, and transplant seedlings carefully when they are very young, after all threat of frost has passed. Good air circulation is vital for best performance, so provide generous spacing. Succession planting every week or so for several weeks extends the flowering period.

If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.