Happy New Year, garden tribe! It’s early January which means I’m buried in seed catalogs and slightly overwhelmed. I want so much! Not because I need it but because I have this thing for plants. Animal shelters have the same effect. If I had the land, and the money, I’d bring everyone home with me.
All kidding aside, winter is a time of reflection as well as one of hope for all that’s possible in the garden. And as I thought about my garden and how very mediocre it was in 2022, one thing struck me. I really love sunflowers. Perhaps the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” really is true. There wasn’t a single sunflower in my garden last year, the first time in over a decade, and I certainly don’t want to repeat that in 2023. Of course there were rudbeckia, coneflowers and daisies but the absence of towering sunnies in the flower beds and especially the vegetable garden was deeply missed.
There’s something about a sunflower that makes me smile, not to mention the Fibonacci sequence of its seeds that I’ve always found fascinating. If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, look at the center of a seeded sunflower and you’ll notice the swirling layout of the seeds which seem to spiral to or away from the center, depending how you want to look at it. The sunflower is a great example of Fibonacci, but it also appears in seashells, pinecones, hurricanes, galaxies and even Romanesco cauliflower.
And speaking of the center of sunflowers, they’re never without pollinators when they’re at their peak. I missed that too. As for color, there’s so much more than yellow. All shades of orange, creamy whites and reds that are nearly black barely scratch the surface of this family. The complex color combos are growing more unique by the minute, too. Just check out Sunflower Steve on Instagram to know what I’m talking about. So today I vow never to be without a sunflower or two from here on out.
Which brings me back to those seed catalogs. There are all kinds of sunflowers – tall ones, short ones, fuzzy ones, singles, branching, pollenless. I love that gardeners can tailor their sunflower choices to their growing conditions and their needs, which is why it’s helpful to know a little something about each variety.
Sunflowers are one of the most iconic flowers, with their bright yellow petals and tall stalks reaching for the sun. Their cheery faces can instantly lift your mood. Beyond visual appeal, sunflowers have many benefits – they attract pollinators, make great cut flowers, and provide tasty seeds. With so many seed varieties available, how do you choose the best ones for planting?
Tips for Selecting Sunflower Seeds
When choosing sunflower seeds, consider the following:
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Sunflower Type: Select from standard, dwarf, pollen-free, perennial, and more. Standard sunflowers grow over 5 feet tall. Dwarf varieties reach 1-3 feet, great for containers. Pollen-free sunflowers are ideal cut flowers. Perennials will return each year.
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Bloom Color: The classic sunflower has bright golden yellow petals, but colors include red, burgundy, white, and multicolored varieties.
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Bloom Size Flowers range from 2 inches to over 1 foot in diameter Giant sunflower heads can reach 20 inches across!
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Days to Maturity Standard sunflowers need 90-120 days of warm weather to develop blooms. Quick maturing varieties are best for shorter growing seasons.
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Seed Production: Some sunflowers are grown specifically for eating seeds. Check the seed packet to confirm if seeds are produced.
5 Recommended Sunflower Seeds
Based on popular opinion and my own experience, here are 5 can’t-miss sunflower seeds for home gardens:
1. Mammoth Grey Stripe
A favorite classic. Large striped seeds are great for eating. Grows 10-15 feet tall with 6-12 inch yellow flower heads. Matures in 95 days.
2. Sunspot
Gorgeous spotted petals in sunset colors of red, yellow and mahogany. 5-7 feet tall. Blooms up to 5 inches across. Maturing in 90 days.
3. Solar Power Dwarf
Charming dwarf reaching just 2-3 feet tall, ideal for containers. Bright yellow 3-5 inch blooms. Quick 60 day maturity.
4. Italian White
Unique ivory blooms with classic dark centers. Branching 6 foot plants. 6-8 inch flowers. 85 days to maturity.
5. Velvet Queen
Giant velvety red blooms up to 1 foot across. Sturdy 10 foot stalks. Matures in 100 days. Stunning!
Growing Tips for Sunflowers
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Plant seeds in full sun 1 inch deep, 6 inches apart after danger of frost.
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Keep soil moist until sprouts appear. Then water deeply once a week.
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Add compost to soil but minimal fertilizer which can inhibit growth.
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If windy, stake taller sunflower varieties to prevent broken stems.
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Rotate planting location each year to prevent fungal diseases in soil.
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Enjoy blooms as cut flowers. Harvest seeds when backs of flower heads turn brown.
With proper planting and care, sunflowers are easy to grow and provide lovely color to gardens. Give these sun-loving beauties a spot in full sun and prepare to be dazzled!
Branching vs. Single-Stem Sunflowers
For my garden, I prefer branching varieties since they produce many flowers on a single plant over a longer period of time compared to their single-stem counterparts which only produce one flower per plant. If I had a larger garden, I could succession plant the singles to have a continuous supply of flowers but that’s not really important to me and it requires more work than I care to do.
Single-stems like those in the Procut series were bred for the cut-flower industry as their flowers tend to last up to two weeks in a vase and are pollenless which is a big deal if you’re into bouquets. Tabletops and furniture are spared a dusting of yellow pollen. So if you’re all about cut flower bouquets, the single-stems are the way to go. In comparison, flowers on branching varieties may last only five days, give or take, are often smaller in size and can be either pollen-producing or pollenless. They also take longer to flower and do so on weaker stems.
If bees are important to you, opt for pollen-producing sunflowers. They’re a one-stop shop offering both pollen and nectar to support the bee population. Pollenless varieties attract beneficial insects like butterflies who love the nectar that is produced by all sunflowers.
The beauty of the sunflower is that it’s not limited to vast gardens. If all you have is a container on a sunny patio, there’s a sunflower seed that can be direct sowed in it and be quite happy. Look for seed packets with a flower pot symbol on it to indicate that it’s great for container growing conditions.
the history of sunflowers
A North American native that was first domesticated more than 2000 years ago, the sunflower has been the subject of fascination for growers and observers alike. To the Native Americans it was a source not only of nourishment, but of medicine and building material. The Aztecs offered the golden blossoms to their god of war, and then to the Spanish conquistadors as a symbol of alliance. The Spanish took the flower to Europe, and from there it was taken to Russia, where it was cultivated for food and oil. It was not until the 19th century that interest in the sunflower returned to mainstream North American society. Since then, it has been a commercial crop, a garden favorite, and beloved of artists like Oscar Wilde, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent Van Gogh. Sunflowers are still grown today in Claude Monets garden at Giverny.
I Grew My Own Sunflower Seeds
FAQ
Which sunflower seeds are best for growing?
- 01 of 10. Taiyo. Taiyo. …
- 02 of 10. Teddy Bear Dwarf. Teddy Bear. …
- 03 of 10. Chocolate Cherry. Chocolate Cherry. …
- 04 of 10. Double Sun King. Double Sun King. …
- 05 of 10. Evening Sun. Evening Sun. …
- 06 of 10. Mammoth Grey Stripe. …
- 07 of 10. Autumn Beauty. …
- 08 of 10. Hopi Black Dye.
What is the best month to plant sunflower seeds?
Early June is arguably the best time for sowing sunflower seeds directly into the soil.Jul 8, 2024
Which is better, black oil or striped sunflower seeds?
The better option is “black oil” sunflower. Black oil sunflower is so named because the shells are black and the meat has a high oil content.
How many sunflower seeds should you put in each hole?
Sunflowers sown outside often grow into sturdier plants, but they’re more vulnerable to pests. Choose your sunniest spot, and water first if it’s dry. Make a hole about 2cm (1”) deep, drop two sunflower seeds in and cover with more soil.
Can you grow plants from roasted sunflower seeds?
It is not possible to grow plants from roasted sunflower seeds. Grow plants from sunflower seeds in bird seed, as long as the outer shell is present. This article was co-authored by Artemisia Nursery and by wikiHow staff writer, Aimee Payne, MFA.
How do you plant sunflower seeds?
Wait for outdoor temperatures above 64ºF (18ºC). Then, plant the sunflower seeds in holes 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and 6 inches (15 cm) apart in a sunny spot in your garden. Keep the soil consistently moist, then cut back to watering once a week once the seedlings sprout. Plant your seeds once temperatures are above 64ºF (18ºC).
When should I plant sunflowers?
Only plant at slightly lower temperatures once the last frost has passed. Sunflowers usually take 70 to 120 days to mature and produce new seeds, depending on the variety. If the growing season is shorter than this in your area, plant the sunflowers two weeks before the last frost.
How big do sunflower seeds grow?
The largest sunflower varieties grow to over 16 feet tall, while smaller varieties have been developed for small spaces and containers and rarely grow larger than a foot tall! The flower heads can reach over 12 inches in diameter within the large seeded varieties. Finally, the Perfect Garden Seeds—From the trusted Old Farmer’s Almanac!
Are sunflowers easy to grow?
Sunflowers are an easy-to-grow, cheery focal flower for the cutting garden or flower farm. We offer a diversity of colors and bloom types in both single-stem and branching types. Fully double chocolate blooms on branching plants. Johnny’s custom sunflower mix. Color innovation in a professional-quality, single-stem sunflower.
How much Sun do sunflower seeds need to germinate?
Sunflower seeds need 6 to 8 hours of full sun per day to germinate, ideally in a location protected from the wind.