Varieties of Sunflowers
Helianthus
I've never met a person who does not like sunflowers. Big or small, sunflowers
are bright and cheerful. They are enjoyed by everyone. It's no surprise,
that many home gardeners grow them. And, there's a sunflower for practically
any garden space you have.
As sunflower enthusiasts, the home gardener is fortunate to be able to select
among a wide variety of sunflowers. Listed below, are some of the most popular
varieties of sunflowers available.
Did You Know? Sunflowers always face East, to the rising sun. The
only exception, is multi-headed varieties, which may face any or all directions.
Varieties of Sunflowers:
Giant Sunflowers
If you want to make people gawk and stare in awe, grow giant sunflowers.
Giant sunflower plants produce giant sunflower seeds for you, and for the
birds. Giant sunflower seeds are a popular, healthy food source, too.
Mammoth Sunflower -This is the most popular of giant sunflower varieties.
Mammoth grows 7-12 feet tall. These stately plants produce enormous, attractive
heads over a foot across. If the birds don't harvest them first, the seeds
are great for roasting.
American Giant Hybrid - Growers use this variety for competition,
it has among the biggest bloom, and the tallest of plants. Plants reach up
to 16 feet, with 10 inch blooms. Just wait until you see the size of the
huge leaves!
Skyscraper - If you are looking for big blooms, Skyscraper sunflower
is the one. The jumbo sized flower grows up to 14 inches across. The plant
grows to 12 feet. The seeds from Skyscraper are big and delicious.
Also see:
How to Grow Giant Sunflowers
Buy Sunflower Seeds for Planting
Other Great Sunflower Seed Varieties:
Autumn Beauty - Stately stems bear gold, rust and orange bicolor blooms.
Autumn Beauty Sunflowers grow 4-6 feet tall.
Double Sun Gold - Looking for huge, brilliant gold flowers with an
eye-catching beauty? Try this variety. Plant grows 6 feet tall, and blooms
in about 75-90 days.
Evening Sun - Here's an unusual sunflower. It produces orange, yellow,
red and mahogany blooms with soft, velvety petals. Blooms are about
8 inches in diameter, atop a 6 foot plant.
Moonshine -Unique, lemon yellow blooms with a dark brown center, sit
atop a 4 foot plant. Moonshine sunflowers add color mixed within other varieties.
Moulin Rouge (Hybrid) - Moulin Rouge Sunflowers are very popular.
That's because the bloom is an attractive, 4-5 inch diameter, red sunflower
with a dark center. Some people use them as cut flowers. The plant grows
5 feet tall.
Red Sun - This plant produces vivid crimson red blooms. Its a great
addition to your sunflower garden. The plant grows 5 feet tall.
Summer Sun(Ox-Eye) - This sunflower produces warm, orange single to
semi-double blooms with overlapping petals. The plant grows 3-6 feet tall.
It's a perennial (most sunflowers are annuals).
Teddy Bear - The Teddy Bear sunflower is as cute as a bear. The plant
grows just 2 feet tall. It produces really cute, 8 inch, extra double flowers.
This sunflower is understandably popular with kids.
Tithonia / Mexican Sunflower - This plant produces fiery orange, 3-inch
blooms, that look more like daisies than sunflowers. Mexican sunflowers grow
4 feet tall. Also see: How to Grow Tithonia
For More Information:
How to Grow Sunflowers
More
on Sunflowers - at GardenHobbies.com
Roasted Sunflower Seeds- from
our cookbook
Roasted Sunflower
Seeds are the rage. Use this recipe to roast your own!
Buy Sunflower Seeds for planting
Buy Guarden Raised Garden Bed Frames Perfect for people
who aren't into building their own raised beds. These raised beds are attractive,
long lasting and affordable. Guarden raised bed frames are the strongest
in the industry. A greenhouse system can be added to them, too. |
