Sunflowers are one of the most iconic and beloved flowers. With their bright, sunny faces and tall, sturdy stems, it’s no wonder they are a favorite for gardens and vase arrangements. When it comes to growing sunflowers specifically for cutting, there are a few key things to look for to ensure you get the best blooms.
Choosing the Right Sunflower Varieties
There are two main types of sunflowers to consider for cut flower production – branching and non-branching (also called single stem).
Branching sunflowers produce multiple blooms per plant over an extended period. They require more space, at least 18-24 inches between plants. Popular branching cut flower varieties include ‘Greenburst’, ‘Starburst Lemon Aura’, ‘Ruby Eclipse’, and ‘Autumn Beauty’.
Non-branching or single stem varieties yield one large bloom per plant. They can be planted closer together, just 4-6 inches apart. This allows for higher density planting. Top single stem cut flower choices are the ProCut series such as ‘ProCut Gold’, ‘ProCut Red’, and ‘ProCut White Lite’.
When choosing varieties also consider bloom size and color. Larger blooms work best as focal flowers while smaller varieties make great fillers. Aim for a mix of classic yellows plus some bicolors and darker shades like burgundy for added interest.
Growing Tips for Cut Flower Sunflowers
Sunflowers are easy to grow from seed. You can direct sow outdoors once the soil has warmed and danger of frost has passed. Or start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last expected frost date.
If transplanting, harden off seedlings first then plant out when soil reaches 60-65°F. Space plants according to variety as noted above.
Sunflowers require full sun Plant in nutrient rich, well-draining soil Keep soil consistently moist, watering 1-2 inches per week. Staking is recommended, especially for taller single stem varieties.
Pinching can help encourage branching and stronger stems on most varieties. Pinch when plants reach 1-2 feet tall by removing the top couple sets of leaves. Repeat as needed. Do not pinch single stem types.
Harvesting and Conditioning Sunflowers
Timing is key when harvesting sunflowers for arrangements. Cut blooms when the petals first start to unfurl, just as color starts to show. Early morning is ideal.
Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut stems on an angle. Remove foliage from the lower 2/3 of the stem. Immediately place in warm water, recut stems and move to a cool, dark location for conditioning.
Condition stems for at least 2 hours, or up to 12 hours for best results. Use floral preservative if desired. Sunflowers generally last 5-7 days in arrangements.
When cared for properly, sunflowers yield an abundance of gorgeous blooms for cutting. Follow these growing and harvesting tips to enjoy vase after vase of cheerful sunflower arrangements all season long. With so many colors and forms to explore, it’s fun to try new varieties each year to discover your own favorites for cutting.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Various Types of Sunflowers
Sunflowers are a popular crop, and a great way for vegetable growers to experiment with adding flowers to the product mix. With more than 50 cultivars to choose from, getting started with sunflowers can be a bit daunting. This article explains basic advantages and disadvantages of the various types and offers some recommendations for choosing the sunflower varieties that best suit your needs and preferences.
The 2 Primary Types of Sunflowers
There are two basic types of cut-flower sunflowers:
These two types are so different from one another that I almost think of them as different crops. I grow the single-stem types because they are preferred in my market, but I can see where some growers would do better with the branching types. Here are some pros and cons of each type.
Lynn Byczynski was growing organic vegetables and cut flowers for market when she decided to create a magazine that would help market gardeners nationwide share experiences and information. Her first issue of Growing for Market appeared in January 1992; GFM has been published continuously ever since and is renowned in the market-gardening world for realistic articles that provide practical, how-to information about growing and selling produce and flowers.
Byczynski and her family have been growing vegetables and cut flowers since 1988, selling through CSAs, at farmers markets, to chefs, grocery stores, and florists. They currently grow cut flowers and hoophouse tomatoes on about 2 acres of their 20-acre farm near Lawrence, Kansas.
She is also the author/editor of two of our favorite books about market farming, The Hoophouse Handbook and The Flower Farmer.
If I had to pick the easiest, most reliable sunflowers for the beginning grower as well as for no-nonsense succession-planting and harvesting, I would recommend the Sunrich series or the Pro Cut series, both of which are Single-stem varieties.
Single-stem sunflowers are pollenless hybrids, which means they do not drop pollen on furniture, tablecloths, and clothing, as non-hybrid sunflowers do. Pollenless sunflowers possess only female characteristics. They do not shed pollen, are less apt to be allergenic, and last longer in a vase. Pollenless sunflowers have abundant nectar which means they are still attractive to bees and butterflies, and will form seeds if there are other sunflowers with pollen nearby.
Continuing on the plus side for single-stem sunflowers, many of these varieties are really quick to bloom, needing just 60 days from seeding date to reach harvestability. In addition, there is a good selection of day-neutral single-stem varieties that can be grown in a hoophouse early in spring or late in fall. (See our article on how day length affects flowering for more detail.)
Single-stemmed plants are more mutable than branching types in regard to the size of the flower you can produce. You can crowd the plants into 6″ x 6″ spacing to produce smaller, bouquet-sized flowers; or you can space them 12″ apart to produce dinner-plate-sized flowers. (See our video on planning, spacing, and sequencing tips for sunflowers to learn more about how spacing influences bloom size.)
Single-stem varieties additionally have strong, thick stems and flowers of substance that make a statement and fill out a bouquet, which endears them to florists. And their vase life is amazing—up to 2 weeks in plain water.
On the other hand, single-stem sunflowers produce just one single flower from one single seed. (Although a few cultivars may send up small secondary flowers in mid-summer, this is not the norm.) This means you need to succession-plant single-stem sunflowers every 10–14 days, all season, if you want to have a continuous supply. If youre selling your blooms, you will need to charge more for single-stemmed cuts to make a good return on your investment. You can treat this as an opportunity, nonetheless—see our 3 Sunflower Succession-Planting Programs to learn how.
Branching sunflower varieties produce numerous blooms over a long period of time, so they dont need to be succession-planted as frequently. There are numerous unusual colors among the branching varieties, including burgundy, chocolate, bronze, and bicolors. Most of the doubles (with blooms that have more than one layer of petals) are branching types. In other words, this category has a lot of pizzazz.
On the other hand, the stems on most branching sunflowers are neither as long nor as strong as those of single-stem varieties. Most need 65 days or more to bloom, and they also require a lot more space; we recommend you plant the branching types 18″ apart. And their lengthier production cycle lends insects and disease more opportunity to attack the plants. Yet by growing branching types, you are at the same time sustaining the beneficial organisms that rely on them. Many branching cultivars do produce copious amounts of pollen—look for those identified as pollenless if you think this is going to be a problem for your customers. And as a group, the branching varieties are not especially long-lived in the vase, some with just 5 days of vase life.
7 Best Varieties Of Sunflowers To Grow| Flower Farming
FAQ
What sunflowers are best for cut flowers?
When it comes to the best varieties of sunflowers for cut flowers, I recommend choosing those with long stems, large sturdy blooms, and no pollen. These varieties not only make for beautiful bouquets but also last longer in a vase.
What is the best branching sunflower for cut flowers?
Best branching varieties for cut-flower bouquets, with strong stems and small, uniform upright blooms: ‘Sonja’ & ‘Soraya’. (Both form pollen, however, in case you need to avoid it.) ‘Soraya’ is also the first All-America Selections Award-winning sunflower.
What kind of sunflowers are used in bouquets?
- ProCut Orange – a classic sunflower with dark, orange, saturated petals and a dark brown center.
- ProCut Plum – has muted purple petals that softly transition to a pale cream tip. …
- ProCut White Nite – one of our best-selling varieties.
What are the best sunflowers for cutting?
- “ProCut Orange” (single stem)
- “ProCut Gold” (single stem)
- “ProCut Plum” (single stem)
- “ProCut Brilliance” (single stem)
- “Sunrich Summer Provence” (single stem)
- “Vincent’s Choice” (single stem)
- “Ruby Eclipse” (branching)
- “Cherry Rose” (branching)