Heirloom

Oklahoma Salmon

Zinnia elegans

Photo: Epolk · Wikimedia Commons · (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Harvest

75-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

0-3 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 Oklahoma Salmon in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Oklahoma Salmon · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing12-18 inches

SoilWell-drained garden soil

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

ColorSalmon-pink

Size1 1/2-2 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

Oklahoma Salmon produces continuously once it starts flowering — deadhead regularly and it'll keep going until frost, so you don't need to succession sow the way you would with lettuce or radishes. A staggered start does give you an extended window of peak-quality cuts, though. In zone 7, direct sow a first round in mid-April once soil temps hit 60°F, then put in a second round in late May or early June. That second planting carries you hard into September and October when the first planting starts to look ratty.

Stop direct sowing by late June — seeds sown after that germinate into daytime highs above 90°F and tend to produce smaller plants that never quite catch up before fall. If you want flowers right up to first frost, set out transplants in late July instead of direct sowing.

Complete Growing Guide

Blooms are 1 1/2-2 1/2", double and semidouble. These petite, yet sturdy, blooms make excellent, reliable accent flowers for market bouquets, wedding flowers, and event work. Cut-and-come-again flower, yielding multiple cuts over the season. According to Johnny's Selected Seeds, Oklahoma Salmon is 75 - 90 days to maturity, annual, open pollinated. Notable features: Grows Well in Containers, 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

Oklahoma Salmon reaches harvest at 75 - 90 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 1 1/2-2 1/2" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Type: Achene.

Storage & Preservation

For cut Oklahoma Salmon flowers, place stems in clean water immediately after harvest and store in a cool location, ideally 35-40°F refrigerator with 80-90% humidity. Shelf life is typically 7-10 days with proper care. Preservation methods include: (1) Air-drying by hanging bundles upside down in a cool, dry, dark space for 2-3 weeks to create long-lasting dried arrangements; (2) Pressing flowers between absorbent paper under weight for 2-3 weeks for craft and scrapbooking projects; (3) Glycerin conditioning by replacing water with a glycerin solution to extend freshness and add subtle sheen while maintaining natural color longer than water alone.

History & Origin

Oklahoma Salmon 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

+Petite double blooms perfect for wedding and event floral arrangements
+Reliable cut-and-come-again producer yields multiple harvests throughout season
+Sturdy flowers maintain quality in market bouquets without premature wilting
+Easy to grow with minimal care requirements for commercial growers
+Attractive salmon color provides unique accent distinct from common zinnia shades

Considerations

-Smaller bloom size limits use as statement flowers in arrangements
-Susceptible to powdery mildew in humid or poorly ventilated growing conditions
-Requires consistent deadheading to maintain prolonged cut-and-come-again productivity

Companion Plants

Marigolds and nasturtiums earn their spot for different reasons. French marigolds (like 'Petite Gold') push out root secretions that suppress soil nematodes, and their scent confuses aphids and whiteflies well enough to reduce pressure on nearby zinnias. Nasturtiums work more as a decoy — aphids hit them hard and fast, which at least concentrates the damage somewhere you can knock it back with a jet of water or insecticidal soap. Alyssum and borage both pull in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that prey on caterpillars and aphid colonies, so they're worth planting along the border edges. In our zone 7 Georgia garden, that beneficial insect activity matters most from June onward, once pest pressure climbs with the humidity.

Black walnut is the one to keep well away from — juglone, the compound its roots release, moves through the soil far enough that zinnias planted within the drip line will stunt or die without any obvious explanation. Fennel is a subtler problem: it produces anethole and other root exudates that suppress neighboring annuals, and it tends to draw swallowtail caterpillars that don't stay put.

Plant Together

Marigolds

Repel nematodes and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles, add nitrogen to soil

Alyssum

Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover

Zinnias

Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects while providing complementary colors

Petunias

Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests

Lavender

Repels moths, fleas, and mosquitoes while attracting pollinators

Cosmos

Attract beneficial insects and provide structure without competing for nutrients

Borage

Attracts pollinators and may improve growth of nearby flowering plants

Keep Apart

Black Walnut

Releases juglone toxin that inhibits growth of many flowering plants

Eucalyptus

Allelopathic compounds suppress growth of nearby plants

Fennel

Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy

Troubleshooting Oklahoma Salmon

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

White powdery coating on leaves and stems, usually showing up mid-summer after plants have been in the ground 6-8 weeks

Likely Causes

Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal disease that thrives when nights cool down but days stay warm and humid
Poor airflow from crowding plants closer than 12 inches

What to Do

1.Strip and trash affected leaves — don't compost them
2.Space new plantings at least 15-18 inches apart to improve airflow
3.Apply a diluted neem oil spray (2 tsp per quart of water) every 7 days until symptoms stop spreading

Stems collapsing at soil level on seedlings, usually within the first 2 weeks after germination

Likely Causes

Damping off — most commonly caused by Pythium or Rhizoctonia fungi in overly wet, poorly draining seed-starting mix
Overwatering or trays left sitting in standing water

What to Do

1.Let the top inch of seed-starting mix dry out between waterings
2.Use a sterile seed-starting mix rather than garden soil or reused potting mix
3.If starting indoors in February or March, run a small fan near the seedlings for 30 minutes a day to dry surface moisture

Flower heads developing gray-brown fuzzy rot, especially after a stretch of rainy days

Likely Causes

Botrytis blight (Botrytis cinerea) — a gray mold that attacks spent or damaged petals first, then spreads to healthy tissue
Deadheading neglected too long, leaving rotting petals attached to the plant

What to Do

1.Deadhead every 5-7 days — cut the stem back to the next lateral bud, not just the spent flower head
2.Pick flowers in the morning once dew has dried, and avoid wetting blooms when irrigating
3.Remove and trash any fully infected stems; Botrytis cinerea spreads fast once humidity stays above 85% for more than a day or two

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Oklahoma Salmon cut flowers last in a vase?▼

Oklahoma Salmon flowers typically last 7-10 days in a vase with proper care. To extend vase life, change the water every 2-3 days, trim stem ends at an angle, remove lower foliage, and place in a cool location away from ripening fruit and direct sunlight. Using flower food can also help prolong freshness.

Is Oklahoma Salmon a good flower variety for beginners?▼

Yes, Oklahoma Salmon is excellent for beginners. It's classified as an easy-to-grow heirloom variety with reliable, sturdy blooms. The cut-and-come-again nature means you'll get multiple harvests throughout the season, making it forgiving and rewarding for new growers learning flower production.

When should I plant Oklahoma Salmon flowers?▼

Plant Oklahoma Salmon after your last spring frost date once soil has warmed. They prefer full sun (6+ hours daily). Direct sow seeds in garden beds or start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date for earlier blooms. With a 75-90 day harvest window, spring planting ensures peak flowering in summer.

Can you grow Oklahoma Salmon flowers in containers?▼

Yes, Oklahoma Salmon can be grown in containers. Use well-draining potting soil and select containers with adequate drainage holes. Ensure plants receive full sun and maintain consistent moisture. Container growing is popular for florists who want to control plant spacing and facilitate cut-and-come-again harvesting for event work.

What are Oklahoma Salmon flowers best used for?▼

Oklahoma Salmon flowers excel as accent flowers for market bouquets, wedding arrangements, and event design work. Their double and semidouble petite blooms (1.5-2.5 inches) add texture and visual interest. The reliable, cut-and-come-again production makes them ideal for professional florists needing consistent supply throughout the season.

How much space do Oklahoma Salmon flowers need between plants?▼

Space Oklahoma Salmon plants 12-18 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and canopy development. Adequate spacing reduces disease pressure, ensures each plant receives sufficient sunlight, and facilitates easier harvesting for cut-and-come-again production throughout the growing season.