Benary's Giant Mix
Zinnia elegans
Benary's Giant Mix is a heirloom zinnia variety producing large, densely double flowers in vibrant mixed colors including pink, red, orange, purple, and white. Plants reach full maturity in 75-90 days and thrive in full sun with well-drained soil. Known for its impressive 4-5 inch blooms and robust growth habit, this variety is a standout choice for cutting gardens and continuous summer color. Easy to grow, making it ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners.
Harvest
75-90d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
0-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Benary's Giant Mix in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Benary's Giant Mix · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
Succession Planting
Benary's Giants bloom continuously once they get going, but a single sowing does fade by late summer — so a second round makes sense. In zone 7, direct sow the first batch in late April when soil temps are reliably above 60°F, then put in a second sowing around June 1. That second batch will carry the bed through September and into October. Don't bother sowing after mid-June; at 75-90 days to peak bloom, anything seeded much past that won't hit its stride before the first frost.
Deadhead every 3-5 days during peak bloom and the plants will keep pushing new flowers rather than going to seed early. If you're growing for cuts, harvesting stems at the moment the head just starts to open functions the same as deadheading — either way, don't let spent blooms sit on the plant.
Complete Growing Guide
Recommended by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers. This vigorous all-season producer holds up well in summer rain and heat all over the country. Densely petaled blooms are up to 6" across. Long-lasting standouts in bouquets. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. Colors include deep red, orange, carmine rose, coral, lime, wine, purple, bright pink, white, salmon rose, scarlet, and golden yellow. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Benary's Giant Mix is 75 - 90 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Easy Choice, Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Occasionally Dry. Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Medium. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Benary's Giant Mix reaches harvest at 75 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 6" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Type: Achene.
Storage & Preservation
For fresh cut flowers, store Benary's Giant Mix in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep in a vase with fresh, cool water (65-72°F) and change water every 2-3 days for maximum longevity. The blooms typically last 7-14 days. For preservation, try air-drying by hanging upside-down in a warm, ventilated space for 1-2 weeks for dried arrangements. Alternatively, press blooms between parchment paper under heavy weight for 2-3 weeks for botanical crafts. Glycerin preservation (submerge stems in 1:1 water-glycerin solution for 1-2 weeks) creates long-lasting preserved flowers maintaining color and flexibility.
History & Origin
Benary's Giant Mix is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Mexico
Advantages
- +Produces massive 6-inch blooms that command attention in floral arrangements
- +Reliable performer in hot, humid conditions with excellent rain tolerance
- +Cut-and-come-again habit provides continuous harvests throughout the growing season
- +Professionally endorsed by specialty cut flower growers for commercial viability
- +Stunning color range of twelve distinct hues suits diverse design preferences
Considerations
- -Requires 75-90 days to flowering, limiting late-season planting options
- -Densely petaled blooms may trap moisture, increasing powdery mildew risk
- -Tall vigorous plants need staking or support in exposed garden locations
Companion Plants
Marigolds and Sweet Alyssum are the two I'd prioritize planting within a foot or two of Benary's Giants. French marigolds like 'Petite Gold' deter aphids through scent and draw predatory wasps that work the whole bed. Sweet Alyssum flowers fast and low, pulling in hoverflies whose larvae will eat aphids before you'd notice an infestation. Nasturtiums earn a spot too — they act as a trap crop, drawing aphids away from the zinnias — and in our zone 7 Georgia summers, they stay productive long enough to do real work before the heat finishes them. Cosmos are fine neighbors as well; they share the same full-sun, warm-season preference and don't compete aggressively for water at the 12-18 inch spacing zinnias need.
Keep Benary's Giants away from fennel and Black Walnut trees. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is allelopathic and will stunt nearby plants through root-zone chemical interference. Black Walnut produces juglone, which leaches through the soil and is toxic to many annuals — zinnias included — so any bed within 50-60 feet of a trunk is risky ground. Large sunflowers are worth skipping as neighbors too, not because of chemistry, but because they'll cast enough shade to cut the 6+ daily sun hours these zinnias need to bloom reliably.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes and aphids, attract beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators
Basil
Repels thrips, aphids, and flies while attracting beneficial pollinators
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts hover flies and parasitic wasps that control aphids
Cosmos
Attract beneficial insects and create habitat for natural predators
Calendula
Repel aphids and whiteflies, attract beneficial insects
Lavender
Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Release juglone toxin that inhibits growth and can kill zinnias
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of nearby flowering plants
Large Sunflowers
Create excessive shade and compete aggressively for nutrients and water
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Japanese beetles, spider mites, aphids
Diseases
Powdery mildew, stem rot
Troubleshooting Benary's Giant Mix
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
White powdery coating on upper leaf surfaces, usually showing up mid-summer when nights cool down slightly
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal pathogen that thrives when humidity is high but leaves stay dry
- Crowded spacing under 12 inches that chokes airflow between plants
What to Do
- 1.Strip the worst-affected leaves and bin them — don't compost
- 2.Spray foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a sulfur-based fungicide every 7-10 days
- 3.Next planting, hold to the 12-18 inch spacing and avoid overhead watering in the evening
Stems turning brown and mushy at the soil line, plant wilting and falling over despite adequate soil moisture
Likely Causes
- Stem rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum or Rhizoctonia solani) — both fungal, both triggered by soggy, poorly drained soil
- Planting into heavy clay or beds that don't drain within an hour after a hard rain
What to Do
- 1.Pull the affected plant entirely — it won't recover, and leaving it spreads the pathogen
- 2.Let the bed dry out before watering again; zinnias tolerate short dry spells better than sitting wet
- 3.Amend beds with compost or coarse sand before the next season to improve drainage
Ragged holes chewed in petals and leaves, shiny hard-shelled insects visible on flowers in mid-summer
Likely Causes
- Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) — they peak from late June through August and are strongly attracted to open-faced flowers like zinnias
What to Do
- 1.Hand-pick beetles in the early morning when they're sluggish and drop them into a bucket of soapy water
- 2.Skip the Japanese beetle bag traps near the zinnia bed — University of Kentucky research found they pull in more beetles than they capture
- 3.Apply beneficial nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) to the lawn in late summer to knock back grub populations before next season
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Benary's Giant Mix cut flowers last in a vase?▼
Can you grow Benary's Giant Mix in containers?▼
When should I plant Benary's Giant Mix seeds?▼
Is Benary's Giant Mix good for beginner growers?▼
What makes Benary's Giant Mix different from other zinnia varieties?▼
How many colors does Benary's Giant Mix come in?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- ExtensionNC State Extension
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.