Oklahoma Golden Yellow Zinnia is a glowing, densely petaled flower from Benary Seeds in Germany that brings sustained color from early summer through fall frost. Growing 30, 36 inches tall with blooms packed so full of petals they look almost impossibly lush, this heirloom cultivar reaches flowering in just 60, 70 days from seed and thrives across hardiness zones 2, 11. Plant it in full sun with moderate water, and it will reward you with 1.5, 2.5 inch golden blooms that attract pollinators while shrugging off deer and drought stress.
9
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
36in H x 24in W
—
High
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These golden zinnias produce flowers so densely petaled they seem almost artificial, each bloom reaching 2.5 inches across. The compact 30, 36 inch plants flower reliably within 60, 70 days and keep blooming through fall, making them a long-season workhorse. Deer leave them alone, they tolerate drought once established, and they're magnets for bees and butterflies, a rare combination of low-maintenance beauty and genuine ecological value.
Oklahoma Golden Yellow Zinnias excel as cut flowers, their sturdy stems and densely petaled blooms holding up beautifully in bouquets and arrangements. They're equally at home in mixed borders, cottage gardens, and pollinator gardens, where their long summer-to-fall bloom season and attractiveness to bees and butterflies make them ecologically valuable. Container gardeners favor the compact form for patios and small spaces.
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Sow seeds indoors 6, 8 weeks before your last spring frost, maintaining soil temperature at 70, 80°F. Seeds germinate in 4, 6 days at these temperatures. Use a seed depth of 1/4 inch and keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during germination.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7, 10 days. Transplant outdoors after your last spring frost when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 9 inches apart in full sun.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your last spring frost once soil has warmed. Sow at a depth of 1/4 inch and thin seedlings to 9 inches apart once they develop true leaves.
Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering throughout the season. Pinching back young plants when they reach 6 inches tall will promote bushier growth and more branching, resulting in fuller plants with more flowers.
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“Oklahoma Golden Yellow traces its lineage to Benary Seeds, a renowned German seed house with deep roots in flower breeding. This heirloom cultivar carries the genetic legacy of decades of selection for those signature densely packed petals and glowing golden-yellow color. The variety's journey to American gardens reflects the post-war seed-saving movement, when gardeners sought out vibrant, reliable annuals from European breeding programs, and Benary's genetics became foundational to modern zinnia culture.”