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Height: 4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m) 8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m)
Spacing: 9-12 in. (22-30 cm)
Hardiness: Not Applicable
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Danger: N/A
Bloom Color: Bright Yellow
Bloom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall
Foliage: Herbaceous
Other details: This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season This plant is resistant to deer
Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information: Non-patented
Propagation Methods: From seed; sow indoors before last frost From seed; direct sow after last frost
Seed Collecting: Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
On Jul 13, 2010, TeadoraX from Pompano Beach, FL wrote:
Within 3 months the seeds I bought at Home Depot were 7 and 8ft tall with 12 in flowers. Something was eating through the leaves as they were coming up, but spraying with insecticide stopped it. The leaves half way down the plant are wilted or destroyed, the remainder to the top healthy and vibrant, if not for the BEETLES!! I do not want to spray more insecticide because these flowers are attracting everything in the neighborhood... though some of the flower heads have been eaten 1/2 through. Very pretty, but also unsightly. Don't think I will plant again. Deerfield Beach, Fl.
On Jun 24, 2009, DisHammerhand from Fontana, CA wrote:
I grow the common 'wild' kind. I let them volunteer because they are superb bird-feeders. They attract House Finches and Lesser Goldfinches. The sunny yellow flowers look cheery hanging over my fences
I grew sunflowers for the first time this year and I was really pleased with the outcome. The advice that I have is to find the spot or spots in your garden that get the most FULL sun during the day and plant the seeds directly in the ground. Water them well in the beginning and they will grow. The seeds that I did not plant in these locations, were stunted and short and a disappointment.
If you want to wow your neighbors, this is the plant to have, especially the giant varieties (mammoth, American giant, Russian mammoth, paul bunyan). If you don't go for height, there are dwarf varieties (sunspot, teddy bear) that offer blooms on less than 3 foot stalks.
Bees buzzed my blooms and then later the cardinals, blue jays and others went wild over the seeds.
Note: the beetles also loved the heads and I had a time picking them off when the beetles were in season.
You can probably grow these plants almost year-round in the warm climates.
On Jul 9, 2005, Gindee77 from Hampton, IL (Zone 5a) wrote:
This is a plant with lots of interest in the garden. People always comment on the size and beauty of them. I love to grow them to save the seeds for the birds.
On Jan 17, 2005, JodyC from Palmyra, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:
Long-tongued bees are the most important pollinators, including the honeybee, bumblebees, Miner bees, and Leaf-Cutting bees. Halictine bees are important visitors, while visitors of lesser importance include bee flies, butterflies, skippers, and the Goldenrod Soldier Beetle. All of these insects seek nectar primarily. Syrphid flies and other beetles occasionally feed on pollen, but they are usually non-pollinating. Also, many insects feed on foliage and other parts of the Annual Sunflower.Because the seeds are abundant, large-sized, and nutritious, they are an attractive food source to many animals, including upland gamebirds, songbirds, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, and mice. To some extent, the seeds are distributed by these animals. Mammalian herbivores, such as rabbits, ground hogs, and deer, may eat the foliage, particularly from young plants. Muskrats and beavers eat the stems and other parts, or they may use them in the construction of lodges and dams.
On Oct 9, 2004, frostweed from Josephine, Arlington, TX (Zone 8a) wrote:
The common Sunflower can be as tall as 10 feet and bloom for a long time.
This is the most abundunt sunflower in the state of Texas. It follows fencerows and covers acres of old fields.
This plant was very useful to native peoples as a source of food and fiber for cordage. The seeds are eagerly sought by wild birds and many modern
food products are derived from this plant.
On Mar 16, 2001, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:
Large plants traditionally grown for their round, lemon-colored flower heads with dark seed centers. The seed heads are usually 2-3" across, but some varieties reach 12" across. The seeds are edible when roasted; birds will feed on raw seeds year-round.
Newer varieties include pale yellow to creamy-white flowers, and some dwarf varieties. Large-flowered varieties need richer soil.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Leonforte, Glencoe, Alabama Phoenix, Arizona Little Rock, Arkansas Calistoga, California Clovis, California Fontana, California Foster City, California Lompoc, California Oak View, California Richmond, California San Diego, California Colorado Springs, Colorado Wheat Ridge, Colorado Beacon Square, Florida Bellview, Florida Bonnie Lock-woodsetter North, Florida Deltona, Florida Fruitville, Florida Gainesville, Florida Keystone Heights, Florida Lake Butler, Florida Page Park, Florida Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Dacula, Georgia Waycross, Georgia Nampa, Idaho Victor, Idaho Champaign, Illinois Chicago, Illinois Divernon, Illinois Hampton, Illinois Oak Forest, Illinois Quincy, Illinois Noblesville, Indiana Rocky Ripple, Indiana Brookville, Kansas Hebron, Kentucky Pride, Louisiana South China, Maine Pinconning, Michigan Saint Clair Shores, Michigan Minneapolis, Minnesota Saint Michael, Minnesota Brandon, Mississippi Mathiston, Mississippi Olive Branch, Mississippi Southaven, Mississippi Waynesboro, Mississippi Cole Camp, Missouri Holts Summit, Missouri Lemmon Valley-golden Valley, Nevada Port Norris, New Jersey Los Alamos, New Mexico College Point, New York Saratoga Springs, New York Haw River, North Carolina Westport, North Carolina Fort Jennings, Ohio Mount Orab, Ohio Baker City, Oregon Island City, Oregon East Washington, Pennsylvania Schlusser, Pennsylvania West Warwick, Rhode Island Newberry, South Carolina Lenoir City, Tennessee Brazoria, Texas Canyon Lake, Texas Dalworthington Gardens, Texas (2 reports) Deer Park, Texas El Paso, Texas Fort Worth, Texas Kerrville, Texas Manchaca, Texas San Antonio, Texas Spring, Texas (2 reports) Watauga, Texas Farr West, Utah South Hero, Vermont Jonesville, Virginia Millwood, Washington Seattle, Washington Delavan, Wisconsin Kaukauna, Wisconsin Johnstown, Wyoming Riverton, Wyoming
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