Welcome to the Artist's Garden
Each seed in this collection has been carefully selected and saved not just for its individual beauty, but for its role in creating living masterpieces.
Growing flowers, like any art form, involves both technique and intuition.
GENERAL TIPS FOR SUCCESS:
- Start with well-prepared soil - it's your canvas
- Consider height, bloom time, and color progression when planning
- Keep detailed notes on what works in your garden
- Save seeds from your favorite blooms to continue the story
- Remember that every garden is unique - adapt these guidelines to your specific conditions.
A few notes about your Queen Bee seeds
Seed Generosity
The Look of your seeds
The Look of your seeds
At Queen Bee Blooms, our vision is to become the preferred online destination for customers seeking high-quality products at affordable prices. We strive to offer a wide range of products that cater to different needs and preferences, while providing exceptional customer service and a seamless shopping experience.
The Look of your seeds
The Look of your seeds
The Look of your seeds
We are proud to offer a diverse range of products, from clothing and accessories to electronics and home appliances. Our products are sourced from leading manufacturers and are carefully selected to ensure that they meet our high standards of quality and value.
Understanding Chaff
The Look of your seeds
Understanding Chaff
We are committed to providing our customers with a safe and secure online shopping experience. We use the latest technology to protect your personal information and ensure that your transactions are processed quickly and efficiently. Our customer service team is always here to help if you have any questions or concerns.
Long Games
Long Games
Understanding Chaff
At Queen Bee Blooms, we believe in giving back to the community. That's why we partner with local charities and organizations to support causes that are important to us and our customers. We also offer special discounts and promotions for members of our loyalty program.
Long Games
Long Games
Long Games
At Queen Bee Blooms, we believe in giving back to the community. That's why we partner with local charities and organizations to support causes that are important to us and our customers. We also offer special discounts and promotions for members of our loyalty program.
Growing Guide for all Queen Bee seed varieties
Amaranth
- When to plant - Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow after danger of frost has passed
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, fertile soil
- Spacing - Thin to 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Keep soil consistently moist until established, then moderate watering
- Pruning - Pinch growing tips to encourage bushier growth
- Fertilizing - Light feeder; side-dress with compost monthly
- Mulching - Apply 2-3 inches of mulch to retain moisture
Ammobium
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, sandy soil
- Spacing - 12 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate; drought tolerant
- Pruning - Harvest flowers for drying before fully open
- Fertilizing - Light feeder; minimal needs
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Balsam
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before
- Where to plant - Partial shade to full sun
- Soil - Rich, moist, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Keep soil consistently moist
- Pruning - No regular pruning needed
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Basil
- When to plant - After all danger of frost has passed
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Rich, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering; keep soil moist but not waterlogged
- Pruning - Pinch regularly to encourage bushiness
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - Light mulch after soil has warmed
Bupleurum
- When to plant - Direct sow in early spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 6-8 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - No regular pruning needed
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Calendula
- When to plant - Direct sow in early spring or fall
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Average, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 8-12 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly for continuous blooming
- Fertilizing - Light feeder; monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Celosia
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Rich, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 6-12 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Pinch young plants; harvest regularly
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Coneflower
- When to plant - Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 18-24 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Deadhead to extend blooming
- Fertilizing - Light feeding in spring
- Mulching - 2-3 inch layer around plants
Coreopsis
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding in spring
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Cosmos
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Average to poor soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Pinch young plants; deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Minimal; too rich soil reduces blooming
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Dahlia
- When to plant - Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Rich, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 18-24 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Pinch young plants; deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-3 inch layer around plants
Dianthus
- When to plant - Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, alkaline soil
- Spacing - 6-12 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch, keeping away from stems
Dill
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, rich soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Harvest regularly for continuous growth
- Fertilizing - Light feeding monthly
- Mulching - Light mulch after soil has warmed
Eryngium
- When to plant - Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, poor to average soil
- Spacing - 18-24 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Minimal needs
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Feverfew
- When to plant - Direct sow in spring or start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Flowering Carrot
- When to plant - Direct sow in spring after soil has warmed
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Deep, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering until established
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Forget Me Not
- When to plant - Direct sow in fall or early spring
- Where to plant - Partial shade to full sun
- Soil - Rich, moist, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 6-8 inches apart
- Watering - Keep soil consistently moist
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers to prevent self-seeding
- Fertilizing - Light feeding in spring
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Frosted Explosion Grass
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-18 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Harvest stems when seed heads form
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Gaillardia
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 12-15 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding in spring
- Mulching - 2-inch layer around plants
Garlic Chives
- When to plant - Direct sow in spring or fall
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Well-draining, rich soil
- Spacing - 6-12 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Harvest regularly
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Gomphrena
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow after soil has warmed
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 6-8 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established; water moderately
- Pruning - No regular pruning needed
- Fertilizing - Light feeder; monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Marigold
- When to plant - Sow directly after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade; zones 2-11
- Soil - Fertile, loose, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 8-10 inches for French varieties, 10-12 inches for African varieties
- Watering - Regular water when young; drought-tolerant when established
- Pruning - Pinch early buds; deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding with time-release fertilizer
- Mulching - 1-2 inch layer between plants
Melampodium
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 12-15 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Self-cleaning; no deadheading needed
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Morning Glory
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Average, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 6-8 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Train vines on support
- Fertilizing - Minimal; too rich soil reduces blooming
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Nasturtium
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Poor to average soil
- Spacing - 12 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Minimal; too rich soil reduces blooming
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Rudbeckia
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 18-24 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Light feeding in spring
- Mulching - 2-3 inch layer around plants
Scabiosa
- When to plant - Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 12-15 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Silene Blushing Lanterns
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-15 inches apart
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Starflower
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average soil
- Spacing - 8-12 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Strawflower
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining soil
- Spacing - 12-15 inches apart
- Watering - Moderate watering
- Pruning - Harvest for drying before fully open
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Sunflower Mix
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Rich, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 6 inches apart for cutting varieties, 24-36 inches for large varieties
- Watering - Regular watering
- Pruning - Remove side shoots for larger blooms
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-3 inch layer around plants
Talinum
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun to partial shade
- Soil - Well-draining soil
- Spacing - 8-12 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Remove spent flowers
- Fertilizing - Light feeding during growing season
- Mulching - Light mulch to retain moisture
Yarrow
- When to plant - Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Well-draining, average to poor soil
- Spacing - 18-24 inches apart
- Watering - Drought tolerant once established
- Pruning - Deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Minimal needs
- Mulching - Light mulch to suppress weeds
Zinnia
- When to plant - Direct sow after last frost or start indoors 4-6 weeks before
- Where to plant - Full sun
- Soil - Average to rich, well-draining soil
- Spacing - 6-12 inches apart
- Watering - Water at base to prevent mildew
- Pruning - Pinch young plants; deadhead regularly
- Fertilizing - Monthly balanced fertilizer
- Mulching - 2-inch layer to retain moisture
Seed germinating & growing instructions
'Queen Isabella of Spain' Marigold Mix
- When to plant - Sow seeds directly in the garden after the last frost or start them indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost.
- Where to plant - Marigolds prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. They can grow in most zones, from 2–11.
- Soil - Marigolds prefer fertile, loose, and loamy soil with good drainage. You can improve poor soil with compost or soil conditioner.
- Spacing - Sow seeds 1 inch apart, and thin them to 8–10 inches apart for French or Signet varieties, and 10–12 inches apart for African varieties.
- Watering - Water marigolds regularly, especially when they are young. Once established, they are drought-tolerant but bloom best when watered weekly. Allow the soil to almost dry out between waterings.
- Pruning - Pinch back early flower buds to encourage bushier plants. Regularly deadhead spent blossoms to keep the plant producing new blooms.
- Fertilizing - Use a time-release fertilizer, but avoid fertilizers with a lot of nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can cause marigolds to become bushy.
- Mulching - Add a 1–2 inch layer of mulch between the plants to help keep the soil moist and discourage weeds.
'Queeny' Zinnia Mix
- When to plant - Plant zinnias in late spring after the last frost and when the soil is warm. Zinnias are short-day plants, so they flower best when the days are shorter, like in early spring.
- Where to plant - Zinnias grow best in full sunlight, but in warmer climates, they may benefit from some afternoon shade. They prefer well-drained, neutral, or slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5.
- How to plant - Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep and 3 inches apart. You can also start seeds indoors in containers.
- Watering - Water zinnias deeply a few times a week so the soil stays moist 6 to 8 inches deep. Avoid overwatering, as zinnias can get rot diseases in wet, clay soils.
- Fertilizing - Amend the soil with compost before planting. When flowers start to form, you can use an organic 5-5-5 fertilizer to encourage bigger blossoms.
- Mulching - Once zinnias are established, you can mulch with a 2-inch layer of straw or bark to help retain moisture and prevent weeds.
- Pinching - Pinch the growth tip of young zinnias to encourage bushier plants with more flowers.
- Deadheading - Trim spent flowers to promote more blooming.
'Angel Wings'
Strawflower Care
Here are the most important tips when caring for your strawflower plant:
- Plant strawflowers in full sun to promote the most blooms.
- Use sandy and rocky soil with a mildly acidic to neutral pH instead of rich, heavy soil.
- Feed strawflowers monthly with a balanced flower fertilizer.
- Deadhead strawflowers throughout the season to keep them in bloom.
- Stake strawflower varieties over three feet tall. Newer cultivars bred to be stocky do not need staking.
'Candy Velvet' Celosia (cockscomb style)
- Sunlight - Celosia plants need at least six hours of full sun per day. Too much sun can cause the leaves or flowers to brown, so move the plant to a shadier spot if this happens.
- Soil - Celosia plants prefer well-drained soil with a pH of 6–6.5 and lots of organic matter, like compost or aged animal manure. You can improve drainage in heavy soils by mixing in sand or compost.
- Watering - Water celosia plants deeply but infrequently, when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry. Overwatering can cause root rot, mildew, and leaf spot.
- Fertilizing - Use a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of the season, and then fertilize monthly with a fertilizer that has more phosphorus than nitrogen.
- Spacing - Space celosia plants 8–12 inches apart, depending on the cultivar.
- Deadheading - Regularly remove spent blooms with clean scissors or pruners to encourage new flowers.
- Staking - Stake taller varieties to prevent the stem from breaking.
- Pests - Keep plants well-watered and avoid overcrowding to prevent pests like aphids and spider mites.
- Starting from seed - Sow seeds in the Spring. You can start your celosia plants from seed in pots before last frost or direct sow in ground. Celosia seeds are tiny, so you only need to plant them about an eighth of an inch deep.
- Hardiness - Celosia is usually grown as an annual, but it's a tender perennial in USDA zones 10 and 11.