Zinnia elegans OKLAHOMA Golden Yellow | Cut Flower Zinnia Seeds

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Golden Yellow’ is a beautiful professional cut flower Zinnia producing an abundance of rich golden-yellow, semi-double to double flowers on strong, well-branched stems.

Part of the professional Oklahoma series by Benary, this variety was specially bred for cut flower production. Plants are vigorous, well-branched and produce many flowering stems throughout the season.

The flowers are smaller and more delicate than those of large-flowered Zinnias, making Oklahoma Golden Yellow particularly useful for market bouquets, wedding floristry and natural garden-style arrangements.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Zinnia elegans
• Series: Oklahoma
• Variety: Oklahoma Golden Yellow
• Breeder: Benary
• Plant type: Annual
• Flower colour: Rich golden yellow
• Flower type: Semi-double to double
• Flower size: approx. 5 cm
• Height: approx. 70–90 cm
• Habit: Upright, strong and well-branched
• Exposure: Full sun
• Crop time: approx. 10–12 weeks / 70–84 days
• Flowering type: Facultative short-day plant
• Seed form: Raw seed
• Uses: Cut flowers, bouquets, flower farms, cutting gardens, beds and containers
• Vase life: approx. 7–10 days

Beautiful Golden-Yellow Flowers

Oklahoma Golden Yellow produces beautiful warm, rich golden-yellow flowers that bring brightness and warmth to summer bouquets.

The smaller flowers are especially useful in mixed arrangements because they add colour without overpowering larger focal flowers.

Golden Yellow combines beautifully with:

White • Cream • Apricot • Peach • Salmon • Terracotta • Burgundy • Soft pink • Green

It works particularly well with Dahlias, Lisianthus, Snapdragons, Cosmos, Sunflowers and other seasonal cut flowers.

Professional Cut Flower Zinnia

The Oklahoma series was developed specifically for cut flower production.

Plants produce an abundance of flowers on strong, well-branched stems, making them excellent for regular harvesting throughout the summer.

Unlike giant-flowered Zinnias, Oklahoma Golden Yellow produces smaller flowers of approximately 5 cm. This makes them particularly useful for mixed bouquets, where they can fill the spaces between larger flowers and add colour and texture to the arrangement.

Abundant Semi-Double to Double Flowers

Oklahoma Golden Yellow produces an abundance of semi-double to double flowers.

The layered petals create full and cheerful blooms while maintaining the natural appearance of a garden-grown Zinnia.

Their smaller size makes them especially versatile for floristry. Several stems can be grouped together in a bouquet, or individual flowers can be used as colourful accents between larger focal flowers.

Regular cutting encourages the plant to continue branching and producing new flowers.

Strong & Well-Branched Stems

Oklahoma Golden Yellow develops strong, upright and naturally well-branched plants with numerous stems suitable for cutting.

Good branching means that each plant can produce multiple flowering stems rather than just one main flower.

The combination of strong stems and smaller flowers makes this variety especially practical for bouquets and professional floral arrangements.

Cut & Come Again

Oklahoma Golden Yellow is an excellent cut-and-come-again Zinnia.

After a flowering stem is cut, the plant develops new side shoots that produce another flush of flowers.

Regular harvesting therefore encourages the plant to continue branching and flowering throughout the summer.

Removing faded flowers also helps maintain continuous flower production.

For an even longer harvesting season, seeds can be sown in several batches approximately 2 weeks apart.

Growing from Seed

Oklahoma Golden Yellow is fast growing and easy to raise from seed.

• Sow 1 seed per cell or small pot
• Cover lightly with vermiculite or a thin layer of growing medium
• Light is not required for germination
• Germination temperature: 21–24°C
• Germination: approx. 3–5 days under good conditions
• Keep the growing medium evenly moist but not waterlogged

For earlier flowering, seeds can be started indoors approximately 4 weeks before planting outdoors.

Zinnias grow quickly, so avoid keeping young plants in small cells for too long.

Plant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed.

Direct Sowing

Oklahoma Golden Yellow can also be direct sown outdoors once the soil has warmed and there is no longer a risk of frost.

Choose a warm, sunny position with well-drained soil.

For a longer flowering season, several sowings can be made during spring and early summer.

Light & Growing Conditions

Zinnias love sun and warmth.

Grow Oklahoma Golden Yellow in full sun for strong stems and abundant flowering.

Choose fertile, well-drained soil and provide regular watering during hot and dry periods.

A spacing of approximately 23–30 cm between plants provides enough room for good growth and air circulation.

Oklahoma Golden Yellow is a facultative short-day plant. It will flower under different day lengths, although flowering may begin somewhat earlier under shorter days.

Warm temperatures and high light levels encourage faster growth and can shorten the total crop time.

Soil & Fertilization

Oklahoma Golden Yellow grows best in fertile, loose and well-drained soil.

Before planting, the soil can be improved with mature compost or well-decomposed organic matter.

Once plants are established and actively growing, use a balanced fertilizer for flowering plants.

Avoid excessive nitrogen, as too much nitrogen can encourage excessive leafy growth and softer stems instead of strong flowering stems.

Watering & Air Circulation

Water regularly during warm and dry weather.

Keep the soil adequately moist but avoid prolonged waterlogging.

Good air circulation between plants is important for healthy Zinnias.

Whenever possible, water around the base of the plants instead of regularly wetting the foliage.

Pinching for More Cut Flowers

When Oklahoma Golden Yellow is grown for cut flowers, pinching encourages branching and helps the plant produce more flowering stems.

Once the young plant is established and actively growing, remove the central growing tip just above a pair of leaves.

This encourages several side shoots to develop instead of one dominant main stem.

The result is a bushier and more productive plant with more stems available for cutting.

Regular harvesting later in the season continues to encourage new growth.

Harvesting Oklahoma Golden Yellow

Harvest the flowers when they are well developed and the stems have become firm and strong.

A simple way to check whether a Zinnia is ready for cutting is the wiggle test.

Hold the stem approximately 20–25 cm below the flower and gently shake it.

If the stem stays firm and the flower head hardly moves, the flower is ready to harvest.

If the stem is still soft and the flower head wobbles strongly, leave it on the plant a little longer.

For the freshest flowers, harvest early in the morning or in the evening and place the stems immediately into clean water.

Under good conditions, the flowers have a vase life of approximately 7–10 days.

Perfect for Wedding & Market Bouquets

Oklahoma Golden Yellow is particularly useful for floristry because it combines a warm golden-yellow colour with a smaller, versatile flower size.

The flowers add brightness to soft summer arrangements and work equally well in warmer late-summer and autumn colour palettes.

Oklahoma Golden Yellow is particularly suitable for:

Cut flower gardens • Flower farms • Market bouquets • Wedding floristry • Bridal bouquets • Summer arrangements • Garden-style bouquets • Seasonal floristry

Why Grow Oklahoma Golden Yellow?

Professional Benary cut flower variety • Rich golden-yellow colour • Abundant semi-double to double flowers • Approx. 5 cm blooms • Strong stems • Excellent branching • Cut-and-come-again flowering • Easy to grow from seed • Excellent for bouquets and floristry

Zinnia Oklahoma Golden Yellow (Zinnia elegans) is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a productive cut flower Zinnia with warm golden-yellow flowers and strong stems for cutting.

Its smaller flowers, beautiful colour, excellent branching and ability to produce new flowers after cutting make Oklahoma Golden Yellow a wonderful variety for cutting gardens, flower farms, market bouquets, weddings and professional floristry.