Sunflower
Also known as: Common sunflower · Helianthus annuus · Girasol
10 types of sunflower
Autumn Beauty
75 daysalso: Helianthus annuus 'Autumn Beauty', Autumn Beauty Common Sunflower
Branching 5–6 ft plant with 6 in blooms in rust, mahogany, gold, and bicolor. Excellent cut flower.
Jerusalem Artichoke
120 daysalso: Helianthus tuberosus, Sunchoke, Sunroot
Perennial sunflower grown for its nutty edible tubers; tall yellow blooms followed by underground harvest.
Lemon Queen
85 daysBranching 5–7 ft plant with dozens of soft pale-yellow blooms. Pollinator magnet, long bloom window.
Mammoth
90 daysalso: Mammoth Grey Stripe
The classic 10–12 ft giant with a 12 in head packed with edible striped seeds.
Mongolian Giant
90 daysalso: Helianthus annuus 'Mongolian Giant'
Huge single heads up to 18 in across on tall sturdy stalks; grown for large edible seeds.
Narrowleaf Sunflower
75 daysalso: Helianthus angustifolius, Swamp Sunflower
Native perennial with narrow leaves and bright yellow daisy-like blooms; tolerates moist soils.
ProCut Orange
60 daysSingle-stem pollenless florist sunflower — uniform 5 ft plants and clean vase life. The market-grower favorite.
Russian Giant
100 daysalso: Russian Mammoth
10–12 ft heirloom with huge single heads and thick oil-rich seeds.
Teddy Bear
75 daysDwarf 24 in plant with fluffy, fully-double golden pom-pom flowers. No pollen — kid- and vase-friendly.
Titan
95 daysalso: Helianthus annuus 'Titan'
Giant competition-type sunflower with enormous heads and heavy seed production.
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Poke a 1" hole with your finger, drop the seed, cover, water. Stake tall varieties early — a summer storm will topple a 10-footer.
Grower's tip
Succession sow every 2 weeks for continuous bloom July–October.
Soil preferences
Well-drained garden soil. Native/wildflower species prefer lean soil; cutting flowers prefer richer beds.
6.0–7.0
Work 1 in of compost into beds before sowing. Skip nitrogen fertilizer on wildflowers — it favors foliage over blooms.
Watering
1 in per week during establishment, drought-tolerant once rooted for most species.
Deep, infrequent soakings at the base. Overhead water on ornamentals promotes botrytis and rust.
Overwatered: rotted crowns, mildew, floppy stems. Underwatered: small blooms, curled leaves, quick fade.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the base in the morning. Overhead water batters open flowers and spreads botrytis on tightly-packed blooms.
Temperature tolerance
60–80°F (16–27°C) ideal for most annuals
50–65°F (10–18°C)
Cool-season annuals (larkspur, poppy, snapdragon) tolerate light frost; warm-season annuals (zinnia, cosmos, marigold) are frost-tender.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
8–14 in (20–35 cm) wide
Compact and dwarf types do best in pots; tall cutting flowers need staking.
Succession planting
Sow cutting flowers (zinnia, cosmos, sunflower) every 3 weeks through midsummer for continuous cut stems.
Detailed harvesting
Cut in early morning when stems are turgid. For cutting varieties, harvest when the bud is just showing color and 1–2 outer petals have opened.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Immediately re-cut stems underwater and place in clean cool water for 4 hrs before arranging. Petals can be dried on screens for potpourri or crafts.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Cut flowers, dried arrangements, pollinator habitat, edible garnishes (borage, nasturtium, calendula, viola).
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Mostly insect-pollinated (outcrossing).
For pure strains, isolate 150–800 ft or bag heads. Wildflower mixes are meant to cross freely.
Stop deadheading favorite blooms; let heads dry brown and rattling on the stem, then collect into a paper bag.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for sunflower in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
From your kitchen — grow sunflower from what you already have
Deadhead less. Let the best blooms fade and set seed on the plant — that's your next year's packet.
- 1Mark 2–3 of your favorite flowers with a bit of yarn and stop deadheading them.
- 2Wait until the seed head or pod dries fully on the plant — brown, papery, and rattling.
- 3Cut whole heads into a paper bag on a dry day; shake or rub to free seed.
- 4Sieve out chaff and store cool and dry in a labeled envelope.
Storage: 2–5 years for most flower seed.
My Sunflower notes
Sunflower seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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