I love growing sunflowers because they seem to beam with happiness and are a lovely addition to the garden. In 2021, the National Garden Bureau named the sunflower the flower of the year.
Helianthus annuus is the botanical name for sunflowers. The term Helianthus is derived from the Greek Helios, meaning sun, and anthos, meaning flower. In addition, the sunflower displays a phenomenon called “heliotropism.” Sunflowers track the sun’s position during the day and are thus able to absorb as much sunlight as possible.
Sunflowers are a cheery addition to the garden and are easy to grow. Further, they seem to be a magnet for pollinators. They come in a variety of colors and sizes. For cut flower bouquets, there are even pollenless varieties available. However, these pollenless varieties are less helpful for pollinators.
Lastly, let me just mention that the sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine. Throughout Ukraine’s history, the sunflower has been a symbol of peace. Let’s hope and pray that the conflict in Ukraine is resolved soon.
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Sunflower varieties
You have lots of choices when it comes to purchasing sunflower seeds. Here is some information to understand before you buy seeds.
- Single Stem Pollenless – These are hybrid sunflowers that possess only female characteristics. They do not shed pollen and will last longer in a vase. Even though these varieties do not have pollen, they still have nectar which makes them attractive to bees and butterflies. As the name suggests, each plant will produce one flower. For a continuous supply of these flowers, consider succession planting. These single stem pollenless varieties are great for flower bouquets. Here are a few varieties to consider.
- ProCut Series
- Vincent’s Choice
- Zohar
- Branching – These sunflowers produce smaller flowers on multiple branching stems over a more extended period. Cutting will encourage new blooms. Here are a few varieties to consider.
- Gold Rush
- Sonja
- Buttercream
- Dwarf – Mini versions of their taller equivalent. Can be either a single stem or branching. Usually, reaching a maximum height of 4 feet (smaller in containers). Here are a few varieties to consider.
- Gummy Bear
- Teddy Bear
- Firecracker
Growing information
Sunflowers are annual plants that are easy to start from seed. They can be grown in USDA Garden Zones 2-11 and are native to North America.
Direct seed after all danger of frost has passed or start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost date. Seedlings germinate in 7-10 days. Plant tall varieties in an area that is sheltered from heavy winds.
Sunflowers can also be grown in containers. However, you will have more success if you chose a dwarf (under 4 feet tall) variety for containers. For sunflowers under 2 feet tall, use a 10–12-inch container. For varieties up to 4 feet tall use a 3–5-gallon container. Remember, sunflowers planted in containers will need more water than those planted in the ground. Check the soil for dryness with your fingers and water as needed.
I personally like to plant sunflowers around the border of my vegetable garden. If necessary, I can stake them to the fence which surrounds the garden. If you want to know how to harvest the seeds from sunflowers, check out the link in the reference section.
Family: Asteraceae
Height: 3-12 feet
Spacing: 1.5 to 3 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil: Sunflowers are not fussy about soil. They are tolerant of both clay and sandy soil. Will do better with the addition of compost to the soil.
Water: Dry to medium
Additional Information
Here is a list of posts that you may also find interesting to read.
- Six wonderful groundcovers to think about
- Brilliant Method to create new garden beds: Lasagna Gardening
- Profusion Zinnias: An awesome flower to grow
- The Importance of Native Plants
- Are volunteer plants a bonus or nuisance in the garden
- How to use perlite vs vermiculite in the garden
- Flowers in the vegetable garden, 7 that provide beneficial effects
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