Sunflowers may be bred for specific colors, heights, flower sizes, types of seed (for birds or humans), to be pollen-free, and more. Ideal for a temporary hedge or privacy screen.Įvery type of sunflower is different and not all sunflowers produce edible seeds. Known for spectacular height, giant flowers and abundant seeds, this easy and fast to grow variety also tolerates drought and poor soil and attracts pollinators. The popular ‘Mammoth Russian’ sunflower has been grown in gardens since the late 1800s. Native Americans have long valued sunflowers for food, medicine, dye and decoration. Most take between 50 and 120 days, but there are exceptions. If you live in a cold climate, choose varieties that grow from seed to maturity in the number of days available between last frost in spring and first frost in fall. Seeds: check the seed packet to know whether the plant will produce seeds and if they can be saved for sowing.
Sunflowers range in height from just one-foot tall to the “giant” varieties which can reach 15-feet (4.5 m) or more.