Cherry Queen Zinnia is a stunning heirloom annual that brings vibrant cherry-red blooms to gardens across zones 2-11. Growing to a compact 30 inches tall, this heat-tolerant variety produces large, double-flowered heads that bloom prolifically from summer to frost, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil. The bold color and impressive vase life make it equally at home in cutting gardens, flower beds, and containers, while its reliable performance and pollinator appeal have kept it a gardener's favorite for generations.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
30in H x ?in W
—
High
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The cherry-red flowers are genuinely eye-catching, with full double blooms that seem almost too perfect to be real. You'll get consistent flowering from midsummer until the first frost, and the blooms last remarkably well in a vase, making this an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements. Bees and butterflies seem drawn to these blooms, so you're creating habitat while growing beauty.
Cherry Queen Zinnia is grown primarily for its dramatic cut flowers, which bring striking color and long-lasting blooms to indoor arrangements. It also serves as a focal point in flower beds and borders, where its height and bold cherry-red color create visual impact, and it attracts pollinators, making it valuable in gardens designed to support bees and butterflies.
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Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds on the surface of moist seed-starting mix, pressing them gently but leaving them uncovered, as they need light to germinate. Keep soil temperature around 70-75°F and maintain consistent moisture. Seedlings typically emerge within 7-10 days.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed, typically when nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 12-18 inches apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days before final transplanting.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Sow seeds on the soil surface, pressing them gently into place, and keep soil consistently moist until seedlings are established.
Cut flowers for arrangements when the blooms are fully open and petals are firm. Cut in early morning when stems are hydrated, using sharp scissors and removing lower leaves from the stem. Cherry Queen blooms have excellent vase life, typically lasting 7-14 days in fresh water.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming throughout the season. You can also pinch back young plants when they reach 6 inches tall to promote bushier, more compact growth with more flower production.
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“Cherry Queen Zinnia is recognized as a heirloom variety, belonging to a lineage of zinnias that have been treasured by gardeners for their reliable performance and stunning color. Like many heirloom zinnias, it represents generations of seed saving and selection by gardeners who valued both its visual impact and its ability to thrive in warm-season gardens without fussing.”