Sunflower Plants
How To Grow Giant Or Mid Size Sunflower Plants
Rangy and hairy sunflower plants, botanical name helianthus, are annual or perennial, blooming in the spring and fall. They are the only native plants in the lower forty eight states to hold status as a significant agricultural commodity, because of the edible seeds in the giant centers of the large varieties. The sunflower is also the state flower of Kansas.
The annuus or annual type, referred to as a “common sunflower”, includes the:
Mammoth Russian Sunflower
Russian Giant Sunflower
They are the tallest sunflowers, growing to 15 feet high. They may need staking to remain upright. The annuals can live in all climate zones and are fun for children because they can plant and care for them with little assistance and watch them become huge - and of course they get to eat the seeds! Seeds need to be roasted before eating, however birds will be happy to eat them raw.
Sunflower Growing Tips
Annual sunflower plants do fine in all climate zones. Each giant plant has one flower, up to 12 inches or more across, with seeds in the middle. For the giant varieties, a rich moist soil is required. Sow the seeds in spring, directly into the ground. They don’t need to be replanted as they grow directly from seed to their giant size.
From the common sunflower, many varieties have been developed including types used by florists. You can grow the variety called multiflorus, a perennial in USDA zones 1 to 24, in your own garden. It makes a lovely cut flower, so you won’t need to go to the florists. The multiflorus grows to five feet tall and three feet wide.
An interesting facet of sunflower plants is that they come with or without pollen, so if you have them in a vase on your table, they won’t drop that messy yellow stuff. This feature is also great for allergy sufferers, both cut and in your garden.
Sunflower varieties without pollen, called X hybridus, include:
1. Large Flower Mix, in bronze, yellow and red. They grow to 10 feet tall
2. Bright Bandolier, a mahogany and yellow combo growing to 7 feet
3. Cinnamon Sun, a bronzy color also growing up to 7 feet
4. Prado, a very deep red, 3.5 to 4 feet tall
5. The light yellow 4 foot Valentine
6. 8 foot tall Velvet Queen, with flowers in red, mahogany, bronze and burgundy, a tall one at 8 feet
There is another fascinating type of sunflower plants called Jerusalem artichokes or tuberosus. They grow in USDA zones 2 to 24 and get to be 7 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Grown commercially for the edible tubers, they are sold in grocery stores as sun chokes. You can grow these easily, and collect annually for eating. Then, if you want to continue growing them, save a few of the tubers and replant. Be careful though. They can become invasive. The Jerusalem artichoke has pretty, bright yellow flowers with a much smaller center than you’d expect of a sunflower.
All in all these plants are beautiful, tasty, fun for kids, and great for cutting. What better plant to grow than the amazing sunflower!