Heirloom

King Size Orange

Helichrysum bracteatum

Photo: Photo by David J. Stang · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Tall, well-branched plants produce double flowers 2-2 1/2" across. Blooms are fiery orange with hints of red and gold. Also known as bracted strawflower.

Harvest

75-85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

2.5–3 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for King Size Orange in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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King Size Orange · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing18–24 inches

SoilWell-draining; tolerates poor or sandy soil

WaterRegular during establishment; drought-tolerant once established

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorFiery orange with hints of red and gold

Size2-2 1/2"

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
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	—
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	—

Succession Planting

King Size Orange blooms continuously once it's going, so one well-timed planting handles most needs. If you're growing it as a cut flower and want steady harvests rather than one big flush in August, start a second tray of seeds indoors 5 weeks after your first and transplant that batch around mid-May. Don't push direct sowings past late June in zone 7 — the variety needs at least 75 days to hit peak bloom, and anything sown after July 1 risks getting caught by the first frost before it gets there.

Complete Growing Guide

Tall, well-branched plants produce double flowers 2-2 1/2" across. Blooms are fiery orange with hints of red and gold. Also known as bracted strawflower. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, King Size Orange is 75 - 85 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Use for Cut Flowers and Bouquets, Ideal for Drying and Crafts.

Soil: Loam (Silt). Soil pH: Acid ( 6.0), Alkaline ( 8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry. Height: zer-oh-KRIS-um brak-tee-AH-tum. Spread: zer-oh-KRIS-um brak-tee-AH-tum. Growth rate: Medium. Propagation: Seed, Stem Cutting. Regions: Coastal.

Harvesting

King Size Orange reaches harvest at 75 - 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 2-2 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

This is an ornamental variety — not grown for harvest. Enjoy in the garden landscape.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh-cut King Size Orange blooms last 2–3 weeks in a vase with fresh water and floral preservative, far longer than typical cut flowers. For drying, harvest fully open blooms and hang upside-down in small bundles in a dark, dry location with good air circulation; drying takes 1–2 weeks. Once dry, store in airtight containers away from direct light and humidity—properly dried blooms remain vibrant and crisp for 12+ months, making them exceptional for winter arrangements, wreaths, and craft projects. No special preservation methods are needed beyond air-drying; the papery structure resists moisture naturally.

History & Origin

King Size Orange is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.

Australia

Advantages

+Vibrant fiery orange blooms with red and gold hints create striking visual impact
+Double flowers at 2-2.5 inches are impressively large for strawflower varieties
+Well-branched plants produce abundant blooms perfect for cutting and arrangements
+Quick 75-85 day maturity allows multiple plantings in one growing season
+Beginner-friendly easy difficulty makes King Size Orange accessible to novice gardeners

Considerations

-Tall growth habit requires staking or support in windy garden locations
-Strawflowers are prone to powdery mildew in humid or poorly ventilated areas
-Dead flowers must be regularly removed to encourage continuous blooming throughout season
-Requires well-draining soil and struggles in heavy clay or waterlogged conditions

Companion Plants

Marigolds — French types like 'Petite Gold' in particular — deter aphids and whiteflies through scent compounds in their foliage, while nasturtiums act as a trap crop, drawing aphids onto themselves before those populations migrate to your strawflowers. Zinnias and cosmos make sense as immediate neighbors because they share identical cultural requirements: full sun, warm soil above 60°F, and a light hand with water once established, so you're not managing conflicting irrigation schedules. Around here in the zone 7 Georgia heat, tucking sweet alyssum along the border pays off — its small flowers run from May through October and pull in parasitic wasps (Braconidae) that work through soft-bodied pest populations. Skip fennel anywhere near this bed; it releases allelopathic compounds from its roots that visibly stunt neighboring annuals within a season, and black walnut's juglone toxicity makes that ground a poor choice for most ornamentals regardless of what you pair it with.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract pollinators

Zinnias

Attract butterflies and beneficial predatory insects, complement orange blooms

Sweet Alyssum

Attracts hover flies and parasitic wasps that control garden pests

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and squash bugs naturally

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide structural support in mixed plantings

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting bees and butterflies

Sunflowers

Attract pollinators and beneficial birds, provide natural windbreak

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants and stunts growth

Eucalyptus

Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit germination and growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic root secretions

Troubleshooting King Size Orange

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Stems rotting at soil level, seedlings collapsing in the first 2–3 weeks after transplant

Likely Causes

Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — fungal pathogens that thrive in cold, waterlogged soil
Overwatering during establishment before roots have spread

What to Do

1.Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings — strawflowers don't want wet feet, even young ones
2.Work perlite or coarse sand into the bed before planting to open up drainage
3.If starting indoors, run a small fan near seedlings to dry the medium surface between waterings and cut the humidity at root level

Powdery gray-white coating on leaves mid-season, usually showing up after a stretch of humid nights

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — favored by high humidity with dry daytime conditions, common in late summer
Plants crowded closer than 18 inches, reducing airflow between stems

What to Do

1.Strip and trash the worst-affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Spray foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate product early in the morning so leaves dry before nightfall
3.Next season, hold to the full 24-inch spacing and switch to drip or base watering to keep foliage dry

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does King Size Orange strawflower take to grow from seed to bloom?▼

King Size Orange reaches blooming stage in 75–85 days from sowing. If you start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date and transplant after frost danger passes, you'll typically see first blooms 4–6 weeks after transplanting outdoors. Direct sowing after frost takes slightly longer—expect blooms 12–14 weeks from direct sowing.

Is King Size Orange a good strawflower for beginners?▼

Yes—it's one of the easiest ornamentals to grow. Seeds germinate readily, seedlings are vigorous, and plants tolerate poor soil and neglect once established. The main requirement is full sun; otherwise, this variety thrives with minimal care. Even skipping fertilizer won't prevent flowering, though regular watering during establishment helps.

Can you grow King Size Orange strawflower in containers?▼

Yes, but with caution. Use large pots (12+ inches) with excellent drainage and pinch plants early to control height and encourage branching in confined spaces. Container plants dry out faster and need more frequent watering than in-ground plants. They'll produce fewer flowers than garden-planted specimens but still perform well as cut-flower sources.

How should I harvest and preserve King Size Orange for dried arrangements?▼

Cut fully opened blooms in early morning and hang upside-down in small bundles in a dark, well-ventilated space. Drying takes 1–2 weeks; once dry, store in airtight containers away from light and humidity. Properly dried blooms retain color and texture for 12+ months, making them perfect for wreaths, arrangements, and craft projects.

What's the difference between King Size Orange and other strawflower varieties?▼

King Size Orange is specifically bred for tall stature (2.5–3 feet), exceptional branching, and large double blooms (2–2.5 inches). Other varieties may be dwarf (12–18 inches), single-petaled, or smaller-flowered. The 'King Size' designation refers to both bloom size and plant vigor; it outperforms standard varieties for cutting gardens and dried arrangements.

When should I pinch King Size Orange seedlings to encourage branching?▼

Pinch growing tips when transplants reach 4–6 inches tall—typically 2–3 weeks after transplanting outdoors. Remove the uppermost 1–2 inches of growth, just above a leaf node. This single pinching encourages the bushy, well-branched form King Size Orange is bred for, significantly increasing flower production without stunting bloom time.