Sunflowers: Types & Care

August 1, 2010

From rich reds to elegant ivories, colorful sunflowers add cheer to any garden. Discover a variety you love, then learn how to give it the tender loving care it needs.

Types of Sunflowers
Bold blooms, some as wide as 10”, perch magnificently atop tall varieties of sunflowers. We suggest planting some of these beauties:

Mammoth: With giant golden yellow blooms, this well-known type soars at 10’ tall. Though it blossoms only once during the summer season, the seeds alone are well worth the wait.
Italian White: Ivory white petals surround this sunflower’s deep chocolate center. It grows up to 7’ tall and blooms continuously from mid to late summer.
Red Sun: Clusters of crimson-colored flowers grace this 8’ tall hearty sunflower. The petals have a luxurious velvet texture and each brown center features a sparkling golden tint.
Prairie: The only perennial plant in the sunflower family, this special variety blooms abundantly throughout the summer and fall. Pointed yellow petals give the flowers a striking star-like quality.

Much smaller than traditional sunflowers, dainty dwarf varieties are perfect for small gardens. We love to plant these little gems along borders or in containers:

Elf: Growing up to 16” tall, this munchkin-sized sunflower bears mustard yellow blooms for the entire summer.
Sunny Smile: The dainty amber-colored blossoms on this 15” plant are sure to make you grin. Plus, it will amaze you all season long.
Double Dandy: Ruffled ruby blooms top stems that can grow up to 2’ high. The stalks branch out to create bright bunches of flowers.
Teddy Bear: Plush, pom-pom-like petals dot this bushier 16” variety. The fluffy blooms are a gorgeous shade of gold.

For charming ways to display sunflowers, read Sunflowers: History & Décor Tips.

Basic Sunflower Care
With these helpful tips, your sunflowers will thrive all season long:

Plant sunflower seeds in soil enriched with organic compost, which provides natural fertilizers. To help the plants conserve water and nutrients, cover the dirt with mulch.
As their name suggests, sunflowers love sunshine, so be sure to plant them where they’ll get lots of it.
Because they grow so quickly, sunflowers need lots of H20, so water them regularly. Be sure to keep pots evenly moist, not drenching wet.
To keep foliage green and full, fertilize your sunflowers every two weeks until they flower. Once they have blossoms, there’s no need to fertilize because that will actually shorten their blooming period.

Tip: At the end of the season, harvest your sunflower seeds! Learn how in our article Sunflowers: Harvesting Seeds & Recipes.

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