The giraffe of the horticulture world, there’s something joyful about the yellow smiling face of a ridiculously tall sunflower. It’s no surprise that children absolutely love growing these impressively lanky blooms. Here’s a guide to growing them.
Planting
Sunflowers grow extremely well from seeds, and now is the time to get them in the ground. Rather than planting seeds all at once, plant a few every two weeks for a long-lasting show of vibrant flowers that are ideal for cutting. Sunflowers are named for their round, sun-like heads, but they also need plenty of sun to thrive, so choose your sunniest spot. With their long stems, they also need protection from wind, so a sheltered corner is ideal. Leave space around them for stakes, as you’ll need to support the plants, particularly if you opt for the tallest varieties.
Varieties
Native to North America and Mexico, the sunflower is tolerant of drought, resilient and easy to grow. Dwarf varieties are lovely in pots on a patio, mid-height varieties like the Del Sol sunflower work best for cut flowers, and the extra-tall varieties like the aptly named helianthus giganteus suit a border. Sunflowers don’t have to be yellow – the stunning Chianti sunflowers have gorgeous wine-red petals, and helianthus annuus ‘orange sun’ have vibrant orange flower heads.
The ease of care required means you can hand over the reins to the youngest members of the household – they plant, gently water, and, as they grow, measure, all as you relax with a glass of something cold on your rattan garden furniture!
