How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Queen Lime’ Zinnias

Queen Lime zinnias are a special series with soft, sophisticated colors. They may not be as flamboyant as some of their more colorful counterparts, but we love them. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to discuss growing these special zinnias.

Zinnias are a favorite of mine; I say it time and time again. If there is one flower I will plant every year without fail, it’s the zinnia. This powerhouse annual truly does it all. The ‘Queen Lime’ series is a unique and beautiful one.

Zinnias are vigorous growers and producers of large, lovely flowers. Their long, strong stems make them an excellent choice for the cutting garden. They’re also an excellent addition to the pollinator patch with their flat, accessible, nectar-rich flowers.

These flowers are incredibly easy to grow and have a great payoff for the effort invested. If you like to see butterflies in the garden, these will make it happen. They bloom throughout the summer and fall, right up to your first frost.
What Is It?
‘Queen Lime’ zinnias are a group best known for their subtle, beautiful, and sophisticated colors. Most varieties get recognition for their bold, bright colors. These have a quiet loveliness that is best enjoyed up close and personal. They are excellent for the cutting garden, where you will want to add them to every bouquet.

Characteristics
‘Queen Lime’ zinnias are medium to large-sized plants that can reach heights of nearly four feet. If you pinch them and cut them often, they will grow into lovely, shrubby plants that look lovely in mixed flower beds. They have strong, slim stems and slightly fuzzy foliage.

The main draw for this particular series is the color of the blooms. There are four recognized varieties, but I’ve seen several others pop up in recent years. The classic ‘Queen Lime’ zinnia is a lime green cultivar; its petals are bright and cool. When combined with other colors, the results are charming and nostalgic.

The lime green shade overlaid with pink, peach, red, yellow, and orange becomes a group of earthy, muted hues. They have a vintage appeal and blend well with almost any color combination.

Native Area
Zinnia elegans is native to parts of Central and North America, including Mexico and the southwestern United States. They grow in semi-arid, warm climates with moderate rainfall. ‘Queen Lime’ is a cultivated series that works well in the same climates as its wild predecessor.

Planting
The ideal time to plant zinnias is in the spring, as soon as the ground is warm enough for them to germinate (about 65°F or 18°C). You can start them earlier indoors, but they grow best if you plant them right in the garden.

‘Queen Lime’ is a medium-sized plant that requires about 18″-24″ of space to spread. You can succession sow them throughout the season, as they will continue to bloom until the first frost.
How to Grow
‘Queen Lime’ zinnias are easy to grow and low maintenance. Regularly deadheading and cutting will produce strong, bushy plants that produce more flowers. These are excellent plants for the pollinator or cutting garden.
Maintenance
‘Queen Lime’ zinnias are annuals, so they don’t require special care for winter. You can simply cut them to the ground and leave the roots to build the soil or pull them out entirely.

During the growing season, deadheading and pruning are essential for maintaining a vigorous, healthy plant that blooms frequently. I grow these for cutting, so I cut often, and this keeps my plants productive and attractive.

Whether you cut them while fresh or wait until the blooms die, make sure to cut the stem far enough down. Cut the stem all the way down to the nearest node that is branching. This will help keep the plant more compact and prevent it from toppling over.

Propagation
It’s possible to propagate from cuttings, but this method is unreliable, making it uncommon. These annuals are so easy to grow from seeds that this is the standard for propagation. At the end of the season, allow a few seed heads to ripen, and you can collect seeds for next year.