Days to Maturity: 90 to 100
Plant Double Sunking in spring, and in summer, it blooms in large, fringy, golden yellow fully double flowers. Borne in small clusters on stiff, course stems, the fun and frilly powderpuff flowers continue over a long season and last a long time in a vase. Be sure to cut sunflowers in the early morning to encourage longer-lasting blooms.
Although a towering, elegant, and architectural presence in the garden, this uniform, multi-branching variety is not too tall to add to the back of a bed or border in a cottage, informal, cutting, or wildlife garden, where the flowers beckon to bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, and the tasty seeds bring the birds flocking.
A hardy annual, sunflowers are fast-growing, tough plants, both heat tolerant and pest resistant, including deer. But consider planting with chives. The onion scent helps deter aphids. Open pollinated, it produces seed that will grow true to variety, ideal for seed saving.
The seeds are easy to direct sow. Just pick a sunny spot with 6 to 8 hours of direct sun, moderately fertile, humus-rich, neutral to alkaline, moist soil, and good drainage, preferably sheltered from the wind. Rake to a fine tilth, clearing stones and weeds; plant seeds ½ to 1 ½ inches deep, spaced 18 inches apart; cover thoroughly with soil; and water regularly. Applying a light application of fertilizer at time of planting and watering deeply but infrequently, once the plant is established, promotes deep rooting. And succession planting, sowing a new row every two to three weeks, will keep sunflowers coming right up to the first frost.
Plants can also be started indoors and planted outdoors after the risk of frost has passed. If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
