Sunflowers are native to North America, and were used by many Native American tribes for food. In the garden, sunflowers can make an almost instant screen or hedge. Or they can be planted to form a child’s playhouse.
Today, sunflowers are cultivated in a wide range of colors and sizes. The colors range from white to pastel yellow, to deep red and burgundy. Heights range from less than two feet tall to giants of more than ten feet. Sunflowers may be the traditional disk of seeds surrounded by single petals, or many of layers of petals.
The hearty blooms can be easily grown from seeds planted in early spring when the soil reaches around forty-two degrees, though warmer soil is preferable for better germination. The large sunflower seeds are a great “starter seed” for children and impatient gardeners alike, since they are easy to handle and will germinate in seven to twelve days. For better germination, water the flowerbed thoroughly before planting.
Sunflowers tolerate a wide range of soil types from sand to clay. They form a large taproot that digs deeply and spreads extensively, allowing the plant to withstand some drought. Any traditional fertilizer can be applied to encourage growth and flowering. Sunflowers tolerate high temperatures well as long as they are supplemented with additional water. Sunflowers are phototropic, which means their leaves and heads follow the sun’s rays. Though most of us consider the sunflower one big flower, the head truly is thousands of small flowers joined at a common receptacle.
Generally speaking, sunflowers are considered annuals, though the Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani) is perennial. Many seed companies offer a wide variety of colors and mixes. Seeds of Change, a New Mexico company whose mission is to help preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable, organic agriculture, offers seed selections such as Evening Sun, Discovery Mix, and Tiger’s Eye. Evening Sun, in particular, is quite lovely. It is a maroon sunflower with cream edges and color that darkens toward the center. It grows to ten feet with four to six inch flower heads. Discovery Mix and Tiger Eye mix combine seeds of polyheaded flowers ranging in colors from rust to burgundy to multicolored.
Park Seed Company’s catalog features Claret sunflower, which has black disks with red petals and multiple branches. This pollen-free sunflower with six-inch blooms is great as a cut flower. For smaller gardens, consider planting Double Dandy, which has deep red, double-flowers on a plant that grows only two feet tall and is pollen-free. It can be planted in a pot as well. Botanical Interest offers a Drop Dead Red Sunflower collection, which features a variety of red to burgundy sunflowers. They also have a pollen-free red sunflower called Moulin Rouge. Sunflowers are the kings of the summer garden, attracting butterflies and birds. They’re wonderfully easy to grow, making it simple to add whimsy and color to your garden.
|
