These wonderful, vivid, crimson-red blooms will add bright coloring to your garden.
These sunflowers reach up to 5 feet tall and are perfect for borders, beds, or as a backdrop to smaller plants. This attractive, easy-to-grow variety is great for cutting flowers or feeding birds.
SKU: 140154
Common Name: Sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
Growing Information
Safe for Bees
Good For Pollinators
Grows Best In:
Full Sun
Days to Germination:
7 - 14 days
Water Needs:
Average 2.5-5 cm (1-2") per week
Growing Height:
1.50 m (5')
Key Features
Plant Type: Flower
Plant Lifecycle: Annual
Fill Weight (grams): 1 g
Approximate Seed Count: 30-35
Characteristics: Multi branching | Cutting flower | Attracts butterflies, pollinators, songbirds, and specialized bees | Long flowering | Easy to grow | Low maintenance | Pet Friendly
Sunflowers do not transplant well and it is best if seeds are sown directly into the garden when the soil is warm and all danger of frost is passed. Soil temperature (not air temperature) should be warmer than 10°C (50°F) for seeds to germinate Planting at a lower temperature will delay germination. Choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. Space seeds and plant to the depth indicated below. Press seeds into the soil to ensure good contact and cover with 3 mm (1/8") of soil. After planting, water the seeds with a gentle mist or shower. A hard spray can wash soil away, dislodge seeds and clump them together. It is critical to keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy during germination. Do not let the soil dry out, as young plants have underdeveloped roots and can quickly dehydrate, particularly in windy conditions. When your seedlings reach a height of a few centimetres (inches) and have developed 2 or 3 pairs of leaves, it is important to thin them out, according to the plant spacing indicated below to provide good air circulation and room to grow.
Click here to read more information on planning and planting a garden.
Planting Depth: 1.3 cm (1/2")
Seed Spacing: 8 cm (3")
Plant Spacing: 38-45 cm (15-18")
Instructions for Nutrient Care:
Feed plants SUPERthrive once per week. Mix 1.2 ml (1/4 tsp) per 4L (1 gallon) of water in a watering can and apply solution to the base of the plants.
Suggestions
Growing Suggestions:
If birds are scratching around for the seeds, cover the planted area with netting until the seeds germinate.
Tall varieties should be grown in a sheltered location so they are protected from the wind. Larger varieties can become top-heavy, and a strong wind can topple them.
Sunflower seeds can be succession planted every 2 to 3 weeks until mid-July for continuous flowers until frost.
Once plants are established, it's important to water the new plants thoroughly but not too frequently. This will encourage the roots to grow deeply into the soil.
Harvest flowers when they have just opened. Click here to learn more about harvesting flowers.
Harvest seeds in late summer and fall for snacking or to feed the birds.