Benary's Giant Zinnia is a towering open-pollinated beauty that reaches 36 to 48 inches tall, earning its reputation as one of the premium zinnias for serious cut flower gardeners. From seed to first bloom takes 63 to 84 days, rewarding patient growers with months of continuous flowers from summer straight through fall. This heat-loving annual thrives in full sun and actually improves with moderate watering, though it handles drought with grace once established. Deer leave it alone, pollinators flock to it, and its tall, sturdy stems produce the kind of abundant blooms that make both garden displays and bouquets genuinely spectacular.
2
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
48in H x 30in W
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High
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The real draw here is sheer abundance and reliability. Benary's Giant produces massive quantities of flowers on tall, sturdy stems perfectly sized for cutting, blooming steadily from June through November in warm climates. Its open-pollinated genetics mean you can save seed year after year, and its drought tolerance paired with pest resilience makes it nearly foolproof even for less experienced growers. Plant it once and watch it perform.
Benary's Giant Zinnia exists primarily for the cutting garden. Its tall stems and prolific flowering make it exceptionally valuable for creating full, long-lasting bouquets. Florists and home gardeners alike prize this variety specifically for cut arrangements, where its extended vase life and continuous summer-to-fall production provide reliable stems throughout the growing season.
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Sow seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost. Plant at a depth of 1/16 to 1/4 inch and maintain soil temperature between 70 and 80°F (21 to 24°C) for germination in 5 to 10 days. A heat mat helps maintain consistent temperature; cooler conditions slow germination to 5 to 7 days. Transplant into 72-cell flats and avoid allowing seedlings to become root bound, as transplant shock can temporarily cause unwanted double flowers in stressed plants.
Move seedlings outdoors after your last spring frost when soil has warmed. Plant at the same depth they were growing in their containers, spacing them 2 inches apart (though wider spacing around 9 inches may improve air circulation). Handle transplants gently to avoid root disturbance and the stress that can trigger temporary single flowers.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last spring frost at a depth of 1/4 inch. This is a recommended method for this variety and yields strong, vigorous plants.
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