Oklahoma Scarlet Zinnia is a luminous heirloom flower that transforms gardens with its vivid scarlet pompom blooms throughout summer and fall. These semi-double to fully double flowers, sometimes even triple or quadruple petaled, reach 2.5 inches across and excel as cut flowers that hold their color for weeks in a vase. Reaching 30 to 36 inches tall, this variety grows from seed to full bloom in just 60 to 70 days, thriving in full sun across hardiness zones 2 through 11. Sourced from the legendary Benary Seeds of Germany, this cultivar proves that hardy, prolific zinnias can be both practical garden workhorses and genuinely beautiful.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
36in H x 24in W
—
High
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The scarlet pompoms on Oklahoma Scarlet are genuinely stunning, with blooms that layer petal upon petal into complex, dimensional forms. Gardeners in cold climates (even zone 2) can grow this annual successfully, and its drought tolerance means it keeps flowering even during dry spells. The flowers attract pollinators reliably, deer leave them alone, and they perform beautifully both in garden beds and in cut flower arrangements where they last for weeks.
Oklahoma Scarlet Zinnia shines as a cut flower, with those spectacular scarlet pompoms lasting weeks in a vase when harvested at peak bloom. The flowers are prized for bouquets, arrangements, and dried flower work. Gardeners also plant them in beds and borders where they provide continuous color from early summer through frost, and their pollinator-attracting blooms make them valuable for supporting bees and butterflies in ornamental gardens.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date, keeping soil at a consistent 70 to 80°F for germination. Seeds will sprout in 4 to 6 days under ideal conditions. Plant seeds just barely below the soil surface, at a depth of 1/16 to 1/4 inch. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last spring frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 6 inches apart in the garden bed.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost, planting at a depth of 1/16 to 1/4 inch. Seeds will germinate in 5 to 10 days when soil temperatures reach 70°F or warmer. Direct sowing is recommended for ease and is perfectly viable in warm-season gardens.
Cut flowers in the early morning when the pompom is fully open and firm to the touch but the petals still hold their crisp form. The flower should feel substantial and papery, not wilted. Strip the lower leaves from the stem and place immediately in cool water. These cut flowers will last up to three weeks in a vase when kept in cool conditions and given fresh water every few days.
Pinch back the growing tips of young plants when they reach 4 to 6 inches tall to encourage branching and a bushier habit with more flowering stems. Deadhead spent blooms regularly throughout the season to keep plants producing new flowers continuously until frost.
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“Oklahoma Scarlet Zinnia traces its lineage to Benary Seeds of Germany, one of Europe's most respected seed houses with a legacy spanning generations of careful plant selection. This cultivar represents the pinnacle of zinnia breeding for the cut flower trade, developed to produce abundant, full double blooms on sturdy stems. The variety carries the name Oklahoma, reflecting its adaptation and popularity across American gardens, particularly in regions where heat and drought are constants. As an heirloom, it remains true to seed, allowing gardeners to save their own seeds year after year and continue this German horticultural tradition in their own landscapes.”