Benary's Giant Coral Zinnia is a radiant heirloom flower that stops people in their tracks with its glowing coral pink blooms. Each flower unfolds into a full 4 to 5 inch double-petaled sphere, a treasure lineage reaching back to Ernst Benary's legendary seed house in 19th-century Germany. From seed to those spectacular summer blooms takes just 60 to 75 days, and the plants grow into compact 3 to 4 foot mounds that handle heat, drought, and neglect with equal grace. If you want a zinnia that feels both classic and commanding, this is the one.
9
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
48in H x 30in W
—
High
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The flowers on Benary's Giant Coral are genuinely oversized, each bloom so densely petaled and uniformly shaped that they look almost architectural. These aren't just bigger than standard zinnias; they're more consistent and refined, a direct result of over 180 years of careful breeding by one of Europe's most respected seed companies. The coral pink color has an almost luminous quality, especially in afternoon light, and the plants produce flowers continuously from early summer straight through the first frost, with zero fussing required.
Benary's Giant Coral Zinnia is a cut flower and garden display powerhouse. The long, sturdy stems and large double blooms hold up beautifully in arrangements, lasting well in the vase. In the garden, these plants create bold color blocks from midsummer onward, and their magnetism for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators makes them ecological assets as much as aesthetic ones.
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Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, pressing them into the surface or sinking them just 1/16 to 1/4 inch deep. Keep the soil at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit during germination; they'll sprout in 5 to 10 days. Provide plenty of light once they emerge to prevent leggy seedlings.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Plant outside only after your last spring frost and soil has warmed; transplant shock in cold soil is a common failure point. Space plants 9 inches apart.
Direct sowing is recommended and works well in warm climates. Sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost when soil has warmed, sinking them 1/16 to 1/4 inch deep. Thin seedlings to 9 inches apart.
Pinch back the growing tips when seedlings are 6 inches tall to encourage branching and bushier growth; this technique results in more flowers and a fuller plant. Deadheading spent blooms consistently throughout the season will keep flowers coming. These compact plants don't require heavy pruning, but removing spent flower heads every few days prevents the plant from shifting energy into seed production.
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“This zinnia carries the DNA of Benary Seeds, a company founded by Ernst Benary in Erfurt, Germany, in 1843. Benary became famous across Europe for developing superior strains of ornamental flowers, and his zinnias were among his greatest achievements. The Giant series represents generations of selection for larger blooms, more uniform growth, and deeper color saturation. When Benary's company eventually passed into other hands, seed savers and heirloom gardeners kept these genetics alive, and today the variety stands as a living connection to 19th-century German horticultural excellence. Growing Benary's Giant is a way of tending a piece of seed saving history.”