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A sunflower 'flower' is actually a head of hundreds of tiny florets, and young buds track the sun across the sky each day β a movement called heliotropism.
Helianthus annuus
Iconic annual grown for flowers, seeds, or both. Heads track the sun while developing, then face east when mature. Direct-sow after last frost. Birds love the seeds β beat them to it by bagging the head as it ripens.
Attract Hoverflies, Lacewings, Ladybugs, Parasitic wasps, Predatory mites, Minute pirate bugs to keep them in check.Water: Medium Β· Height: 250 cm Β· Soil: Well-draining loamy soil with moderate fertility. pH 6.0-7.5. Tolerates poor soil but prefers not waterlogged conditions.
Direct-sow Sunflower outdoors about 1 weeks after your last frost. Seeds usually come up in around 10 days. Grow in full sun, spaced about 45 cm apart. Expect the first blooms in roughly 80 days.
Sunflower seed rarely stays viable beyond 4 years β track what's still worth sowing.
Did you know?
A sunflower 'flower' is actually a head of hundreds of tiny florets, and young buds track the sun across the sky each day β a movement called heliotropism.
Calendula officinalis
flower
Like Sunflower, this plant attracts hoverflies for natural pest control
Cosmos bipinnatus
flowerA fellow Asteraceae β similar growing habits to Sunflower
Tagetes patula
flowerAttracts the same hoverflies as Sunflower, keeping pests in check
Tagetes erecta
flowerA fellow Asteraceae β similar growing habits to Sunflower
