How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflowers resemble giant daisies. There are about 60 species of sunflower, both annual and perennial, all of which bloom in late summer or fall. Most are native to North American, and they are widely cultivated throughout the world. The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is the state flower of Kansas.

When the sunflower plant is young, its head turns to face the sun each morning and follows the sun's movement throughout the day.

With their huge yellow flowers, sunflowers even resemble the sun. The flower heads look like a single flower, but they are really many individual flowers. The central brown button is a dense mass of individual disc flowers, and the petals are actually flattened ray flowers. There are many varieties of sunflower, with coarse, hairy stems that range 2 to 12 feet tall. Flower heads can be anywhere from 2 inches to 1 foot across. There are varieties with double flowers, some even ball shaped.

Colors of sunflowers include yellow, gold, bronze, orange, and mahogany red. Center discs can be yellow, brown, reddish, or purple.

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Sunflower, Summer Trio is the best pollen-free sunflower mix yet! Lovely,green-eyed Lemon and Golden Aura and Lemon Eclair with delicious-looking chocolate centers create these beautiful sunflowers. Double 6" flowers with branched stems make this the best pollen-free sunflower mix yet! Space these flowers 12" apart.

Purchase at: Sunflower, Summer Trio

A mix of soft hulled seed bearing sunflowers that will keep you and the kids stocked with tasty, healthful sunflower seeds all season long. This sunflower snack mix hosen from the latest and best varieties each year from over 3000 breeding lines of sunflower seeds, you can be sure that this sunflower seed mix is the best. New, different and improved every year! 8-10" yellow-gold heads. Purchase sunflowers below by clicking the banner:

Spring: Plant seeds directly into the ground as soon as danger of frost is past. Thin to avoid over crowding and keep area weed free.

Summer: Apply mulch to help conserve moisture and keep weeds down. Provide plenty of water and fertilize with a mild, organic fertilizer.

Fall: Harvest flower heads when you notice birds eating seeds. Hang in a dry, airy place for about a month to allow the seeds to dry.

Winter: Store seeds in an airtight container to preserve their vitamin content. Enjoy the seeds plain, roasted, or use them in salads or recipes.

When you see birds begin to eat the sunflower seeds, the sunflowers are ready to harvest. Harvesting sunflowers usually takes place 80 to 120 days after sowing. To harvest sunflowers, cut off the heads, leaving 1 foot of stalk attached. Tie the sunflower stalks together and hang in a warm and airy place to dry. After about a month of drying, the sunflower seeds will come loose quite easily if you rub the heads lightly.

Yes, that's right a Green Sunflower! We guarantee you've never seen a sunflower that's even close to this color. Refreshing lime-green blossoms with jade and cream centers are the perfect complements to yellows, golds and oranges in bouquets. Flowers 4-5" across bloom on branching plants 4-5 ft tall.

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