Sunflowers: Summer Icons, Pollinator Magnets
Helianthus annuus
Sunflowers are summer made visible. Choose towering Mammoth types for seed harvest, branching varieties like ProCut for cut flowers, or dwarf Suntastic for containers. Bees and finches will thank you.
Specifications
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness zones
- Annual
- Height
- 2–12 ft
- Bloom time
- Mid to late summer
Care & growing tips
Direct-sow 1 inch deep after last frost when soil warms. Stake tall varieties. Water deeply once a week. Succession-sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous blooms. Leave seed heads to feed finches in fall.
Companion plants
03Place sunflowers in your real yard
Upload a photo and Arden visualizes full garden designs featuring sunflowers alongside companion plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
01 When should I plant sunflower seeds?
After your last frost date when soil temperatures reach 55°F. Direct-sow outdoors — sunflowers have a taproot and resent transplanting.
02 How tall will my sunflowers get?
Mammoth and Russian Giant reach 10–12 feet. ProCut and branching varieties stay 5–7 feet. Dwarf Suntastic and Sunspot top out at 2–3 feet, perfect for containers. Check the packet — varieties range from 18 inches to 15 feet.
03 Why did my sunflowers fall over?
Shallow roots plus wind and rain. Plant deeper next time (2 inches minimum) and stake tall varieties once they reach 3 feet. Avoid overly rich soil, which causes weak, stretched stems that can't support the flower heads.