Sunflowers
It ’s really hard not to likesunflowers(Helianthus annuus ) . These must - have annuals are like undimmed yellow smiley faces of the garden world . Even on a disconsolate day they tally cheery merriment , and it does n’t suffer that birds , butterflies , squirrels and chipmunks adore them , too !
Sunflowers in every size and color
There ’s a wide variety of this sunshine - loving annual available . As you’re able to see in the chart above , plants range in size from 1 to 14 feet magniloquent , and you ’ll find pastel , deep Marxist to orange and even twisted or velvety petals ! Their big seeds are easy tostart aright in the garden . I ’ll share seven varieties with striking feature film and give you the low - down on what ’s particular about each one and the good ways to utilize it in your garden . Here are a few of my favorites .
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1. ‘Pacino’ sunflower
This helianthus mixing remain small — just 12 to 16 inches marvelous when grown in a pot , a little improbable in the garden . A right branching habit produces numerous 5 - inch - diameter yellow flowers that have yellow or yellow - immature centers .
Plant a rowing of them at the front edge of a windowbox for a flowery encroachment .
2. ‘Ballad’ sunflower
Reaching 24 to 30 inches gamy , ‘ Ballad ’ is a very mildew - tolerant variety . Bright gold blooms get 4 to 5 inch across and are pollenless , unlike some other gardensunflowers , so they wo n’t bother you if you ’re allergic to flower pollen and wo n’t be messy if you make for them indoors .
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3. ‘Double Dandy’ sunflower
gas as the first twofold red sunflower , ‘ Double Dandy ’ reaches 2 feet tall . Rosy dark-skinned , 4 - column inch twofold flower loose on very bifurcate radical . This compact plant is big incontainers , but do n’t hesitate to rationalise the pollen - free bloom to enjoy indoors , too .
4. ‘Red Courtesan’ sunflower
If you want an interesting coloring material in your helianthus bed , try on this 4- to 5 - understructure - tall potpourri with 5 - in deep red petals surrounding a intimately black centre . This estimable furcate variety entail you ’ll get more blossom on each flora .
‘ Red Courtesan ’ look peculiarly serious against a lighter - one-sided setting , such as a white fencing , where it ’ll really show well .
5. ‘Honey Bear’ sunflower
The word “ cuddly ” spring to nous when you look at the fuzzy doubled prosperous flowers of this sunflower . Each blossom is ringed with a row of single petals . Give this plant some elbow way , though . At 60 to 72 inch tall and 24 to 26 inch astray , it ’s great for massing or make a cheery hedging .
6. ‘Magic Roundabout’ sunflower
You might be allure to engraft this 6- to 8 - substructure beauty in the back of the border , where it can reign over smaller works in the layer . But the pretty 5 - inch red and yellow blooms are great mown flowers . So be indisputable to develop it where you may reach them — though you may need a step ravel !
7. ‘Mammoth Gray Stripe’ sunflower
Like to grow the bad and best?Plant a wrangle of this giant 12 - foot sunflower . immense 12 - inch flowers opened atop sturdy stems ( though they may need staking in a wordy spot ) . It ’s one of the best producer of seeds , whether they ’re harvested by birds , or the gardeners who grow them .
