Main Sunflower Types for your Garden

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

Sunflower Types, Annual Sunflowers, Perennial Sunflowers, Helianthus annuus, Helianthus salicifolius, Helianthus maximiliani, Helianthus occidentalis

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 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
Genus	Helianthus
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Summer (Early, Mid, Late) Fall
Maintenance	Low, Average
Water Needs	Low, Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Tolerance	Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Helianthus annuus ‘Arikara’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Russian Mammoth’ (Common Sunflower)

Dwarf Annual Sunflowers – Less than 3 ft. (90 cm)

Helianthus annuus ‘Firecracker’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Suntastic Yellow with Black Center’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Teddy Bear’ (Common Sunflower)

Colorful Annual Sunflowers

Helianthus annuus ‘Evening Sun’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Floristan’ (Common Sunflower)

Helianthus annuus ‘Strawberry Blonde’ (Common Sunflower)

Perennial Sunflowers

Unlike annual varieties, perennial sunflowers return to the garden year after year. Their bright yellow flowers tend to be smaller than annual sunflowers.
They bloom for 8-12 weeks, with some starting as early as mid-summer and others finishing as late as mid-fall – adding cheerful color and interest in the garden at a time when most other plants have finished flowering.

Tall Perennial Sunflowers – Over 6 ft. (180 cm)

Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ (Sunflower)

Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian Sunflower)

Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem Artichoke)

Dwarf Perennial Sunflowers – Less than 4 ft. (120 cm)

Helianthus ‘Happy Days’ (Perennial Sunflower)

Helianthus occidentalis (Western Sunflower)

Helianthus salicifolius (Willow-Leaved Sunflower)

Loved by the artist Van Gogh and generations of children, Sunflowers are fun, easy to grow, and require little care.
Sunflowers prefer full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day) and are not fussy about soils as long as they are well-drained.
Most Sunflowers are heat and drought tolerant once established. A sheltered location is preferred, as the wind may catch the heavy heads.
Sunflowers are of outstanding value to wildlife. Attractive to bees, their central disk gives way to sunflower seeds that provide food for birds in fall and winter.
Add them to your cutting garden to create extravagant and glamorous bouquets. Select pollen-free varieties that will not shed on tabletops, such as Vincent’s Choice, Firecracker, or Strawberry Blonde.

Great Companion Plants for your Sunflowers

Pennisetum orientale (Oriental Fountain Grass)

Pennisetum villosum (Feathertop Grass)

Aster novae-angliae (New England Aster)

Helenium (Sneezeweed)

Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)

Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-Eyed Susan)

Discover These Helpful Guides for Further Reading

Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Sunflowers

57 Types of Flowers You Should Grow

Plant Native Annual Flowers for a Vibrant Garden

Edible Flowers for Your Garden

Wonderful Plants That Repel Insects

Companion Planting With Annuals

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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.