Alphabetical Plant Listing

Main Sunflower Types for your Garden

Helianthus annuus, Helianthus salicifolius, Helianthus maximiliani, Helianthus occidentalis, Helianthus tuberosus, Helianthus strumosus, Helianthus argophyllus


Grown for their striking and colorful flowers, Helianthus (Sunflowers) can be annuals or perennials, with coarse simple leaves and large, showy daisy blossoms. Native primarily to North and South America, they belong to the aster family (Asteraceae) and count up to 70 species. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals for their spectacular flower heads and their edible seeds. Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke) is cultivated for its edible tubers, rich with an artichoke-like taste.

Annual Sunflowers - Helianthus annuus (Common Sunflower)

  • Cherished for their beauty, Common Sunflowers are fast-growing annuals with broad, oval to heart-shaped, roughly hairy leaves. Blooming from summer to fall, they produce brilliant flowers, up to 12 in. across (30 cm), with yellow, red, orange, creamy-white or bicolor petals surrounding a dark chocolate central disk. Borne on stiff upright stalks, the flower heads tend to follow the sun from morning to night.
  • These showstoppers make outstanding cut flowers and are valuable additions to beds and borders.
  • Extensive hybridizing has resulted in a great number of cultivars providing a wide range of colors, flower shapes (short or long rays, frilled or double), and sizes (dwarf to giant). Some are huge and grow on towering 8-16 ft. stalks (240-480 cm), while others top off at a modest 12 in. (30 cm)

Tall Annual Sunflowers - Over 8 ft. (240 cm)

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Helianthus - Sunflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Helianthus - Sunflowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers

AlessandroZocc / Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 10
Plant Type Annuals, Perennials
Plant Family Helianthus - Sunflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low, Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow
Compare All Helianthus - Sunflowers Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.