Alphabetical Plant Listing

Helianthus annuus (Common Sunflower)

Common Sunflower, Comb Flower, Golden Flower of Peru, St Bartholomew's Star


Helianthus annuus (Common Sunflower) is a tall, fast-growing annual with broad, oval to heart-shaped, roughly hairy leaves. In summer, it produces huge, brilliant flowers, up to 12 in. across (30 cm), with yellow petals surrounding a dark chocolate central disk. Borne on stiff upright stalks, the flower heads tend to follow the sun from morning to night. Attractive to bees, their central disk gives way to sunflower seeds that provide food for birds in fall and winter. These showstoppers make outstanding cut flowers and are valuable additions to beds and borders. Loved by the artist Van Gogh and generations of children, Sunflowers are fun, easy to grow, and require little care.

Extensive hybridizing has resulted in a great number of cultivars providing a wide range of colors (yellow, red, orange, creamy-white and bicolor), flower shapes (short or long rays, frilled or double), and sizes (dwarf to giant).

  • Typically grows up to 3-10 ft. tall (90-300 cm) and 18-36 in. wide (45-90 cm). May need support
  • Prefers full sun and enjoys moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist, neutral to alkaline, well-drained soils. However, this plant is not too fussy about soils and tolerates poor soils. Taller varieties should be sited in locations sheltered from strong winds.
  • Low maintenance, this is an excellent choice for the back of perennial borders where the dazzling flowers are welcomed in any color scheme. Perfectly suited to the cutting garden, or cottage gardens.
  • Attractive to bird, butterflies and bees, it is deer resistant.
  • Harvest seed for use the following year. However, be aware that some cultivar seeds may not produce plants with the same characteristic as the parental plant.
  • Native to the United States, Canada and northern Mexico

Learn How To Plant, Care and Grow Gorgeous Sunflowers

Cherished for their beauty, Sunflowers (Helianthus) are striking ornamental annuals or perennial plants grown for their colorful summer and fall blooms. Fast-growing, they can reward you with glamorous blooms between 55 and 100 days after planting. Here are some basic rules that need to be followed to enjoy their splendid flowers.Read More

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Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 11
Heat Zones 1 – 12
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Helianthus - Sunflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 3' – 10' (90cm – 3m)
Spread 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spacing 30" – 36" (75cm – 90cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

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Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers

Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers


Botanik Foto

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.


Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 11
Heat Zones 1 – 12
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Helianthus - Sunflowers
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Mid,Late)
Height 3' – 10' (90cm – 3m)
Spread 1' – 3' (30cm – 90cm)
Spacing 30" – 36" (75cm – 90cm)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Native Plants United States, Alaska, California, Midwest, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Northeast, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Southeast, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Southwest, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Dry Soil
Attracts Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles Cutting Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Helianthus - Sunflowers

Guides with Helianthus - Sunflowers

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