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 |
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 |