Zinnia elegans Oklahoma Salmon | Cut Flower Zinnia Seeds

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Salmon’ is an exceptional cut flower zinnia loved for its warm salmon-pink, peach, coral and soft apricot tones, abundant flowering and strong, well-branched stems.

Part of the renowned Oklahoma series, this variety was developed specifically with cut flower production in mind. It produces masses of petite semi-double to double blooms, creating an incredibly productive source of flowers for bouquets throughout summer.

The flowers are smaller and more refined than those of large-flowered zinnias, making Oklahoma Salmon particularly valuable for market bouquets, wedding flowers, garden-style arrangements and professional floristry.

Plants are vigorous, heat-loving and highly productive. Regular cutting encourages continued branching and the development of new flowering stems throughout the season.

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Zinnia elegans
• Series: Oklahoma
• Variety: Oklahoma Salmon
• Plant type: Annual
• Flower colour: Salmon-pink with peach, coral and soft apricot tones
• Flower type: Semi-double to double
• Flower size: approx. 4–6 cm / 1.5–2.5"
• Height: approx. 75–100 cm / 30–40"
• Growth habit: Upright, vigorous and well-branched
• Exposure: Full sun
• Days to maturity: approx. 75–90 days
• Flowering type: Facultative short-day plant
• Seed form: Raw seed
• Uses: Cut flowers, bouquets, wedding floristry, flower beds, containers and landscape planting
• Vase life: approx. 7–10 days

Exceptional Salmon, Peach & Coral Colour

The colour is what makes Oklahoma Salmon particularly special.

Rather than producing flowers in one flat salmon shade, the blooms develop a beautiful range of warm salmon-pink, peach, coral and soft apricot tones. Individual flowers may vary slightly in colour, creating a natural tonal effect when several stems are arranged together.

These sophisticated warm shades combine beautifully with cream, blush pink, apricot, burgundy, terracotta and other muted garden colours.

This makes Oklahoma Salmon especially attractive for wedding flowers, romantic bouquets and modern garden-style floral arrangements.

Professional Cut Flower Zinnia

The Oklahoma series has a long-standing reputation as a productive cut flower zinnia.

Oklahoma Salmon combines strong stems, excellent branching and abundant flower production with a smaller flower size that is extremely useful for floristry.

The approximately 4–6 cm blooms are considerably more delicate than giant zinnias, allowing them to function as both a small focal flower and an accent flower within mixed bouquets.

This makes Oklahoma Salmon especially valuable for growers who already grow large-flowered zinnias and want another flower size for bouquet work.

Abundant Semi-Double to Double Flowers

Oklahoma Salmon produces an abundance of semi-double to fully double flowers.

The layered petals create a charming, rounded appearance while retaining the relaxed character of a garden-grown flower.

Because the plants are highly productive and well branched, a relatively small planting can provide a surprisingly large number of stems during the summer.

Regular harvesting encourages the plants to continue producing new flowering shoots.

Strong & Well-Branched Stems

Oklahoma Salmon develops vigorous, upright and naturally branching plants.

Under good growing conditions, plants commonly reach approximately 75–100 cm in height, producing numerous stems suitable for cutting.

Regular harvesting encourages further branching and helps maintain flower production.

When grown specifically for cut flowers, closer spacing can also encourage the development of longer, straighter stems.

Cut & Come Again

One of the greatest advantages of Oklahoma Salmon is its cut-and-come-again flowering habit.

Instead of producing a single flush of flowers and finishing, plants continue developing new branches after harvesting.

The more regularly mature flowers are harvested, the more the plants are encouraged to produce additional flowering stems.

For professional or intensive cut flower production, succession sowings approximately every 2 weeks can provide an even more consistent supply of high-quality stems throughout summer.

Growing from Seed

Oklahoma Salmon is fast-growing and easy to raise from seed.

For transplant production:

• Sow 1 seed per cell or small pot
• Cover the seed lightly with vermiculite or growing substrate
• Light is not required for germination
• Germination temperature: approximately 21–24°C
• Expect germination in approximately 5–7 days at 21–24°C
• Warmer conditions can accelerate germination
• Keep the growing medium evenly moist, but avoid prolonged waterlogging

Zinnias grow quickly and should not be kept in small cells for too long.

Transplant seedlings carefully because excessive root disturbance and transplant stress should be avoided.

Direct Sowing

Oklahoma Salmon is also excellent for direct sowing into the garden or field.

Sow outdoors only after the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed.

Seeds can be covered with approximately 6 mm of soil.

Zinnias are extremely sensitive to frost and prefer warm growing conditions, so there is little advantage in sowing them outdoors too early.

For a continuous supply of cut flowers, sow another batch approximately every 2 weeks during the appropriate part of the season.

Light & Growing Conditions

Choose a position in full sun.

Oklahoma Salmon loves warm summer conditions and performs best with abundant light.

High light intensity and warm temperatures encourage rapid plant development and flowering.

Avoid planting in heavily shaded positions, particularly when growing specifically for cut flowers, as strong light helps produce vigorous plants and good-quality flowering stems.

Soil & Fertilization

Grow Oklahoma Salmon in fertile, loose and well-drained soil enriched with organic matter.

A soil pH of approximately 6.3–6.8 is suitable for field production.

Feed moderately with a balanced fertilizer once plants are actively growing.

Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, as this can encourage excessive leafy growth and softer stems rather than balanced flower production.

Watering & Air Circulation

Water thoroughly when necessary, particularly during hot and dry weather.

Allow the soil to drain well and avoid keeping the root zone permanently saturated.

Good air circulation between plants is particularly important for zinnias.

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

Pinching for More Cut Flowers

For cut flower production, Oklahoma Salmon benefits from pinching when young.

Once plants are established and actively growing, remove the central growing tip above a pair of leaves.

This encourages the development of several strong side branches rather than one dominant central stem.

The result is a bushier plant capable of producing more harvestable flowering stems.

Regular harvesting later in the season continues this process naturally by stimulating additional branching.

Harvesting Oklahoma Salmon

Zinnias should be harvested only when the stems are sufficiently mature.

Do not judge maturity solely by how open the flower appears. Instead, check the firmness of the stem.

Use the simple “wiggle test”:

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

If the stem remains stiff and the flower head stays relatively stable, the flower is ready to harvest.

If the stem bends easily and the flower head wobbles strongly, allow it to mature for a little longer.

Harvest during the cooler part of the day, preferably early morning or evening, and place stems immediately into clean water.

Under suitable post-harvest conditions, Oklahoma Salmon has an approximate vase life of 7–10 days.

Perfect for Wedding & Market Bouquets

Oklahoma Salmon is particularly valuable for florists because of its combination of sophisticated colour and refined flower size.

The warm salmon, peach, coral and apricot shades work beautifully in modern seasonal palettes, while the petite flowers provide a different scale from large focal zinnias.

It is especially useful for:

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

Why Grow Oklahoma Salmon?

Professional cut flower variety • Exceptional salmon-pink, peach & coral colouring • Abundant semi-double to double blooms • Refined 4–6 cm flower size • Strong stems • Excellent branching • Highly productive • Cut-and-come-again flowering • Approx. 75–100 cm tall • 75–90 days to maturity • Excellent for repeated harvesting • Approx. 7–10 day vase life • Outstanding for bouquets, weddings and floristry

Zinnia elegans ‘Oklahoma Salmon’ is an outstanding choice for growers looking for a highly productive cut flower zinnia with sophisticated warm colouring and a refined flower size.

Its unique blend of salmon-pink, peach, coral and soft apricot tones, combined with strong stems, prolific flowering and excellent branching, makes Oklahoma Salmon one of the most useful Oklahoma varieties for flower farms, cutting gardens, wedding work and professional floristry.