Zinnia elegans Oklahoma Pink | Cut Flower Zinnia Seeds

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Pink’ is a professional cut flower zinnia prized for its abundance of refined pink blooms, strong stems and excellent branching.

Part of the well-known Oklahoma series, this variety was specifically bred for cut flower production. It produces masses of semi-double to double flowers approximately 5 cm across, carried on strong, well-branched stems that are ideal for harvesting.

Unlike varieties that produce their flowers all at once, Oklahoma zinnias naturally flower in batches, making them particularly valuable for cutting gardens and seasonal flower production. With regular harvesting, plants continue branching and producing new flowering stems throughout the warm season.

The elegant pink colour is extremely versatile for floristry and combines beautifully with white, cream, apricot, peach, burgundy, lavender and other soft garden shades.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Zinnia elegans
• Series: Oklahoma
• Variety: Oklahoma Pink
• Plant type: Annual
• Flower colour: Pink
• Flower type: Semi-double to double
• Flower size: approx. 5 cm / 2"
• Height: approx. 70 cm / 28"
• Growth habit: Upright, vigorous 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 beds, landscape planting, pots and mixed containers

A Professional Cut Flower Zinnia

Oklahoma Pink has been specifically bred with cut flower growers in mind.

Plants develop strong, well-branched stems capable of supporting numerous flowers, while the approximately 5 cm blooms are smaller and more refined than the very large flowers of varieties such as Benary’s Giant.

This smaller flower size makes Oklahoma Pink particularly useful for mixed bouquets, wedding flowers and detailed floral arrangements, where medium-sized blooms integrate beautifully with other flowers.

The plants produce an abundance of flowers rather than concentrating their energy into only a few oversized blooms.

Beautiful Pink Flowers

Oklahoma Pink produces soft, classic pink flowers with a charming semi-double to double form.

As the flowers mature, the multiple layers of petals create a full yet delicate appearance that works beautifully in romantic and garden-style floral designs.

The pink colouring makes Oklahoma Pink particularly easy to combine with other cut flowers, including zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, lisianthus, dahlias and ornamental grasses.

It is an especially useful colour for summer bouquets, wedding work and pastel floral palettes.

Strong, Well-Branched Stems

One of the defining characteristics of the Oklahoma series is its strong and naturally well-branched growth.

The plants reach approximately 70 cm in height and develop multiple flowering stems, allowing repeated harvesting from the same plant.

Regular cutting encourages additional branching and helps maintain continued flower production throughout the growing season.

For cut flower production, plants can be grown relatively closely to encourage longer, straighter stems suitable for bouquets.

Flowers in Batches

Oklahoma zinnias are particularly useful for flower growers because they naturally produce their flowers in batches or flushes.

After the first harvest, the plants branch again and develop another group of flowering stems.

Under suitable growing conditions, approximately 3–4 weeks may be required for plants to branch and flower again following a harvest.

This growth pattern makes Oklahoma Pink excellent for a cutting garden where flowers are harvested regularly throughout summer.

For an even more continuous supply, additional sowings can be made every 2–3 weeks.

Growing from Seed

Zinnias are fast-growing annuals and are relatively easy to raise from seed.

For transplant production:

• Sow 1 seed per plug or cell
• Cover the seed with vermiculite or growing substrate
• Light is not required for germination
• Germination temperature: 21–24°C
• Expect radicle emergence in approximately 3–5 days
• Keep the growing medium consistently moist during germination

After the first week, the temperature can be reduced to approximately 20°C.

Once roots reach the bottom of the cell, temperatures can be lowered further to around 18°C.

Temperatures below approximately 12°C can result in slow and uneven germination.

Direct Sowing

Oklahoma Pink can also be direct sown into the garden or field once the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed.

Zinnias are sensitive to cold temperatures, so avoid sowing or transplanting outdoors too early.

For continuous cut flower production, make successive sowings every 2–3 weeks during the appropriate part of the growing season. This helps extend the harvesting period and ensures a steady supply of fresh stems.

Light & Flowering

Oklahoma Pink performs best in full sun with high light levels.

Zinnia elegans is a facultative short-day plant. Plants are capable of flowering under different day lengths, but flowering can occur earlier under shorter days.

High light intensity and warm temperatures can also shorten the total crop time.

For outdoor cut flower production, choose the sunniest available position.

Soil & Fertilization

Grow Oklahoma Pink in fertile, loose and well-drained soil.

For young plants, a growing medium around pH 5.8–6.2 is recommended.

Zinnias require moderate feeding. Once plants are established, use a balanced fertilizer, but avoid excessive nitrogen or high ammonium levels, which can encourage overly soft vegetative growth.

Good drainage is particularly important, as consistently wet growing conditions can increase the risk of disease.

Watering & Air Circulation

Water thoroughly but allow the soil to dry moderately between irrigations rather than keeping plants continuously saturated.

Good air circulation around the foliage is important, especially when plants are grown closely together for cut flower production.

Where possible, water near the base of the plants rather than repeatedly wetting the foliage.

Pinching for More Stems

For cut flower production, young plants can be pinched to encourage additional branching and increase the number of harvestable stems.

Remove the central growing tip once plants are sufficiently established.

This encourages side shoots to develop and helps create a productive, well-branched plant with multiple flowering stems.

Regular harvesting throughout the season provides a similar effect by encouraging plants to continue producing new branches.

Harvesting for Cut Flowers

Harvest Oklahoma Pink when the flowers have started to open and the stems are sufficiently firm.

A useful technique for zinnias is the “wiggle test”: gently shake the stem approximately 20–25 cm below the flower. If the flower head remains firm rather than bending or wobbling significantly, the stem is generally mature enough to harvest.

Cut during the cooler part of the day, preferably early morning or late evening.

Place freshly harvested stems promptly into clean water or a suitable floral preservative solution.

Regular harvesting encourages plants to continue producing new flowering stems.

Excellent for Floristry

The approximately 5 cm flower size gives Oklahoma Pink a different character from large-flowered zinnias.

Its smaller, refined flowers work beautifully as supporting focal flowers in bouquets without overwhelming more delicate ingredients.

The combination of classic pink colouring, strong stems and abundant flower production makes it especially suitable for:

Cut flower gardens • Market bouquets • Wedding flowers • Florist arrangements • Garden-style bouquets • Mixed summer bouquets • Flower farms • Seasonal floral design

Why Grow Zinnia Oklahoma Pink?

Professional cut flower variety • Abundance of semi-double to double flowers • Beautiful classic pink colour • Strong stems • Excellent branching • Approx. 5 cm flowers • Approx. 70 cm plants • Flowers in productive batches • Fast 10–12 week crop • Easy to grow from seed • Excellent for repeated harvesting • Ideal for bouquets and floristry

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Pink’ is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a productive and reliable cut flower zinnia with refined pink blooms and strong, well-branched stems.

Its combination of abundant semi-double to double flowers, professional cut-flower performance, manageable flower size and repeated flowering makes Oklahoma Pink particularly valuable for flower farms, cutting gardens, market bouquets and floral design.