ZenMan said: Happy New Year everyone.

I hope to grow some zinnia specimens similar to these later this year.



ZM

BEAUTIFUL!!!

Absolutely!

Oh, Zen, you've done it again.
Those zinnia are beautiful.
Do you find the new crossed flowers are mostly in the pink shades?

I've saved zinnia seeds for over 20 years. I do notice those seeds produce more & more shades of pink as the years progress. For the last three years, I have purchased orange, red, yellow & white seeds to enhance the row.

Hi Kathy,
" Do you find the new crossed flowers are mostly in the pink shades? "
I think the presence of the "dye" that produces pink, and probably darker versions, is "dominant" in that the "child" specimens tend to have that dye present, though not to the exclusion of other organics with color. My hybrids aren't exclusively pink, as these specimens show.





Yellow is one of my favorite colors.

ZM

Thanks, Zen.

ZenMan said: one of the purest white commercial zinnias is Burpee's White Wedding.

ZM

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Hello ZenMan!

I am being told I may not have long stems for cut flowers if I cross with Wedding White. I do want long stems and would like to try using them. Any tips on how to try to "over ride" the shorter stem length on the Wedding White?

I know….I really need to study more on genetics. The older I get, I am not as studious as in the past.

Whoopee! I finally ordered, "The Zinnia Breeder's Handbook by Tiffany Jones!
I have bred irises, bit nothing else, so I hope to learn more about zinnias their different types and cultivars and how to hybridize them. We'll see if I make any actual progress on them. At least I will learn about them.

Hi 2Kids1Bike,

"I am being told I may not have long stems for cut flowers if I cross with Wedding White."

So don't cross your zinnias with White Wedding. I have never bred zinnias specifically for long stems. The World Record for tall zinnias is currently https://www.guinnessworldrecor... over 12 feet tall, and those could have some long stems!!!

I have made some selections from some tall growing zinnias like Benary's Giants and Giants of California. Both of those strains are described as 4 feet tall and have stems long enough for bouquets. And they are available in a complete color range, including White. But I confess, I have not been breeding zinnias for bouquets. I have been breeding predominately for novel-looking blooms. I think a strain of zinnias that looked like Flowering Onions would be neat.



It's hard to believe that a zinnia bloom can be spherical like an onion bloom. Maybe a bit harder to believe on that first one. I think it would be great to have a whole garden full of spheres in a full range of zinnia colors. However, 12-foot zinnias would fare rather badly in our Kansas winds.

ZM

Hi Evelyn,

" I finally ordered, "The Zinnia Breeder's Handbook by Tiffany Jones! "

I have a copy of that book, too. An interesting read and good color photos.

ZM

ZenMan said: Hi 2Kids1Bike,

"I am being told I may not have long stems for cut flowers if I cross with Wedding White."

So don't cross your zinnias with White Wedding.
ZM

I've tried the Giants and Polar Bears and like them but I want to try to cross the White Wedding. because of the bright white. I'm was just wondering if you have tips on how to "over ride" that trait.

The spherical zinnias are out of this world! I want to read more about this tonight. 🌸

Hi 2Kids1Bike,

"I want to try to cross them because of the bright white."

Both Benary's Giants and Giants of California are available in a White version, and their plants are 4 ft tall, towering over the 12" to 16-inch White Weddings. You are right to reject White Wedding if you are looking for good long-stemmed cut flowers.
"The spherical zinnias are out of this world! I want to read more about this tonight."
Read about onion blooms (not the Blooming Onions at Outback Steakhouse). There are decorative onions grown for their spherical blooms. My spherical zinnia blooms have the same shape without the onion smell. And, with a little cross-breeding with other zinnias, a greater possible color range.

ZM

Haha, I have no desire for a 12 foot tall zinnia. I would like to grow pretty ones with long stems as well for bouquets and garden interest.

We'll see what happens in a month or so when I start my zinnia seeds. I realize it will take time.

Hi ZenMan,

[quote="ZenMan"] "Both Benary's Giants and Giants of California are available in a White version, and their plants are 4 ft tall, ."

I've tried them and do like them. I was just excited about how bright the wedding whites are!

"There are decorative onions grown for their spherical blooms. My spherical zinnia blooms have the same shape without the onion smell.

I've grown drumstick garlic and they are so pretty! Are you currently working on creating the spherical zinnias?

Wow !
12' zinnias !
I'd be willing to try. The tallest mine got were 5'10". I'm thinking it might have something to do with the perfect climate and the perfect growing season. (Of which I have neither.) Anyway, thanks for the idea, Zen.

[/quote] have been breeding predominately for novel-looking blooms. I think a strain of zinnias that looked like Flowering Onions would be neat.



It's hard to believe that a zinnia bloom can be spherical like an onion bloom. Maybe a bit harder to believe on that first one. I think it would be great to have a whole garden full of spheres in a full range of zinnia colors. However, 12-foot zinnias would fare rather badly in our Kansas winds.

ZM
[/quote]

Awesome work and lovely photos 🤩
What does a typical cross look like to achieve an onion type bloom? And are those easily pollinated then or is it something difficult to pollinate?

Hi All,

Queen Lime -I feel like I've seen information about crossing QLs and that we need to keep that info in mind when setting goals.

HYBRIDS:

Am I correct in thinking that QL is a hybrid?

How does that affect their seed production when selfed? When open pollinated?

What needs to be considered when setting goals to cross other elegans with them?

2kids1bike ~ What ideas did you have for crossing QL?

Hi 2Kids1Bike,

The breeder of the Queen series of zinnias has transitioned the name from "Queen" to "Queeny". There are now several "colors" available: Queeny Orange, Queeny Lime Orange, Queeny Lime Red, Queeny Lime Blush, the original Queeny Lime, and now the Queeny Lemon Peach which was a 2022 AAS Winner & Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner.

"Am I correct in thinking that QL is a hybrid? "
None of the Queeny series are F1 hybrids--all are open-pollinated varieties.

"What needs to be considered when setting goals to cross other elegans with them?"
The Queeny series are about 30 inches tall. Their blooms are about 3 inches in diameter. All of them have some green in their bloom coloration. Have fun with them.

ZM

evelyninthegarden said: 2kids1bike ~ What ideas did you have for crossing QL?

Hi evelyninthegarden! I don't have any "real" ideas as of yet. I am looking at different varieties and trying to be sure I understand the terms intraspecific or interspecific, which I just learned.

That said, I did have quite a few QL Reds that had a slight "shimmer" to them a couple of years ago so I may be interested in crossing something with the hope of that trait showing up.

How about you? Do you have any ideas or tips for the QLs?

Hi ZenMan,

"None of the Queeny series are F1 hybrids--all are open-pollinated varieties. "

This is where I get confused as well. Would them being open pollinated mean they "start" at F2 hybrids?