Sunflower varieties encompass various captivating blooms within the Helianthus genus, each with unique charm and appeal. These remarkable plants have become garden favorites and agricultural staples worldwide.
Among the most recognizable is the classic Giant Sunflower, boasting towering heights and massive golden blooms. Dwarf Sunflowers offer a more compact and manageable option, ideal for smaller gardens and containers.
For those seeking a touch of elegance, there are specialty varieties like the Velvet Queen Sunflower with its rich, deep red petals or the Lemon Queen Sunflower, clothed in bright yellow blossoms.
Sunflowers are not only a visual delight but also a practical crop. Oil seed sunflowers yield valuable oils, while striped varieties are cultivated for nutritious seeds. As we explore the diverse world of Sunflower varieties, we’ll uncover their ornamental beauty, agricultural significance, and role as a symbol of sunny optimism.
Different Sunflower Varieties
Following are different Sunflower varieties:
1: Skyscraper Sunflower
The Skyscraper sunflower, which lives up to its name, is one of the varieties of sunflowers that grow to be the tallest. On average, they have a height that ranges between 14 and 16 feet.
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These are fantastic solutions for individuals who have limited space but still want to make a large impact with their floral arrangements but want to commit only some of their yard to it.
Only when there is no longer any chance of frost should these wonderful plants be planted in ground that is exposed and not protected in any way? It is recommended that you thin out the plants after they have reached a height of around four inches. They need to be provided with a substantial amount of water to quench their thirst.
2: Russian Mammoth
This huge sunflower species is a beauty that requires very little care and is known variously as the common sunflower or the Russian Mammoth. This monstrosity can reach heights of 9 to 12 feet and has blossoms that may be up to 14 inches across in diameter.
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They should be grown on soil that is only moderately fertile and in an area that is protected from the elements. After the soil temperature has reached 50 degrees and the threat of frost has gone, the seeds should be planted with a distance of 6 inches between each one. It should be done in the spring.
Late in the summer, Russian mammoths put on a show with their brilliant yellow blooms with chocolate brown cores. Their seeds magnetize much wildlife, including birds, bees, butterflies, and squirrels. Roasting the seeds makes them suitable for human consumption as well.
3: Mongolian Giant Sunflower
The Mongolian Giant sunflower variety, which is yet another tall kind of sunflower, lives up to its name and reputation. The enormous plant may reach a height of up to 14 feet and only has one blossom on each plant it produces.
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The gigantic flower has a diameter between 14 and 18 inches and typically blooms around 90 days after the seed is put in the ground. The time that the blossoms are present might range from four to six weeks until their petals fall off. The gigantic seed heads they produce attract birds and other forms of animals like a magnet.
Additionally, many people like eating the seeds of the plant. Please put them in a location from where they will get the majority of their daily dose of sunlight. They should be planted on rich and somewhat wet soil in the spring, not long after the last frost.
4: Mongolian Giant
Flowers of the American Giant Sunflower may grow to be as wide as 10 inches and as tall as the plant itself, which can reach a height of up to 16 feet. Growers submit this gigantic species into contests because of their height and robust stems, keeping the blooms straight for longer than some other species and types.
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These plants need much room since their leaves may spread out quite a bit. It usually takes them between 65 and 75 days to blossom, which results in those magnificent blooms being produced throughout the summer.
After the possibility of frost has passed, plant the seeds in the spring in nutrient-rich soil with good drainage in an area where they will be exposed to full sunlight.
5: American Giant Sunflower
A kind of sunflower known as the Giant Sun gold attains a great height rapidly and develops quite large. Even though these lovely plants only grow to a height of five or six feet, the flowers on each are still rather enormous, measuring six and ten inches across.
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Even though these incredible plants seem to be quite little, they nonetheless deliver a big punch despite their outward look. Most images have blooms with more petals than a “standard” sunflower, giving them the look of pom poms.
It is because more petals result in a more robust and complete bloom. They are perennials that must be cultivated in direct sunlight or a light shade close to direct sunlight. Plant them after all danger of frost has gone but before the first possibility of spring warmth.
6: Bright and Cheerful Sunflower
The Sunny Smile Sunflower is a stunning small type of sunflower that comes in yellow and orange. Please use them as potted plants for patios and porches, and even bring them inside as houseplants.
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Because the plant blossoms continuously throughout the year and does not create pollen, it is very friendly to plant enthusiasts who suffer from allergies.
The Sunny Smile plant may reach a height of up to 15 inches and has robust stems and dainty yellow blooms with chocolate-colored centers. When planting outside, wait until the season’s last frost has passed before sowing the seeds in a location that gets full light.
You may sow seeds at any time of year for indoor plants, but spring is the best time to do it if you want the blooms to have a more natural seasonal cycle. However, it would be best to ensure they get a lot of sunshine or give them grow lights.
7: Junior Sunflower
Junior Sunflower is a smaller, dwarf variety, perfect for smaller spaces and containers. Blooms of a vivid yellow or golden hue are distinctive of this plant, bringing a ray of sunshine to any area in which it is planted.
Junior sunflowers are another kind of little hybrid that does not generate pollen and are called by this name.
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They may grow up to two feet tall, and their blossoms can be up to five inches broad, which places them on the bigger end of the dwarf spectrum. After the last risk of frost has gone, put them in a location that gets a lot of direct sunlight after the soil has warmed up enough.
Perform this step a good number of weeks after the threat of frost has gone. As a direct consequence, you will be able to make out the vivid yellow blossoms they generate on their plants.
8: Dwarf incredible
Dwarf Incredible is a compact, smaller-sized sunflower variety known for its stunning, deep red or burgundy blooms.
It’s a charming addition to gardens and containers, offering the beauty of sunflowers in a more petite package. Incredible Dwarf is a Dwarf. Sunflowers are a special kind of sunflower that differs from other types.
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Despite their shorter stems, which only reach a height of two feet, they boast enormous flower heads, which may be up to 18 inches in diameter at their widest point. Even though the blooms are rather large, many people still cultivate these plants in container gardens or even bring them indoors.
Sow the seeds of Dwarf Incredible about three weeks before the final frost of the year for outdoor growth and at any time for indoor growing.
9: Suntastic Yellow
Suntastic Yellow is a vibrant, eye-catching yellow sunflower variety known for its bright, sunshine-hued petals. This sunflower cultivar adds a cheerful and sunny touch to gardens and floral arrangements.
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After fewer than 65 days from planting, your Suntastic Yellow sunflowers will grow plants that reach a height of up to 20 inches and produce blooms up to six inches across. The gorgeous blooms are a golden yellow color with dark centers and do not generate pollen.
In addition, each plant may produce as many as twenty flowers during its blooming period, which can occur up to three times yearly. Plant your Suntastic Yellow Sunflowers in the springtime on soil rich in moisture yet has good drainage.
10: Rouge Royale Sunflower
The Rouge Royale Sunflower, also known as the Royal Sunflower, is a multi-branch sunflower variety that is a popular ‘exotic‘ sunflower with dark flower centers. Its blooms may be bright, genuine red, or burgundy red.
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Many people consider the stunning sunflower the “industry standard” for red sunflowers, and it is often used as a flower for cutting and a plant for garden beds.
They may reach up to two meters, depending on the species. It is recommended that Rouge Royales be planted one to two weeks following the last frost that is forecast for the season.