If this zinnia were on a dating app, it would be a solid swipe right. ‘Queeny Lime Orange’—which opens in warm shades of lime, yellow, peach, salmon, and orange—is like a sunset on a stem. With beautiful summer blooms that reach 2 to 4 inches in diameter, this gem won the 2018 All-America Selections Flower Winner award and the 2019 Fleuroselect Gold Medal award for performance in European trials—and rightfully so. ‘Queeny Lime Orange’ is a knockout in mixed plantings and as a cut flower. At the Cornell Botanic Gardens in Ithaca, New York, one of our editors spotted the gorgeous burnt orange leaves of ‘Campfire’ coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides ‘Campfire’, Zones 10–11) and yellow-flowering Bee’s Knees™ petunia (Petunia ‘Balcobees’, annual) in the neighborhood of ‘Queeny Lime Orange’, which created a striking color echo. If you’re planning on purchasing some seeds this winter, definitely consider throwing a pack of ‘Queeny Lime Orange’ into your cart.

‘Queeny Lime Orange’ zinnia

Zinnia elegans ‘Queeny Lime Orange’

Zones: Annual

Size: 24 to 30 inches tall and 12 inches wide

Conditions: Full sun; fertile, well-drained soil

Native range: Mexico

Sources

• Botanical Interests, Broomfield, CO 877-821-4340; botanicalinterests.com
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Fairfield, ME 877-564-6697; johnnyseeds.com