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Flowers

Sunflower growing guide

Bold annual flower with edible seeds. Fast growing and cheerful. Excellent at attracting pollinators. Produces seeds that attract birds in autumn.

Photo reference

Use this real-world photo as the main plant reference, then compare it with the botanical drawings below for leaf, flower and harvest details.

Sunflower real-world photo reference (Helianthus annuus)
Wikimedia Commons · George Chernilevsky · CC BY 4.0
7-14 daysGermination
70-100 daysHarvest
45 cmSpacing
2.5 cmSow depth
FullSun
TenderFrost
2 cm/weekWater
6-7.5pH

Planting calendar by climate

Use these windows as a public guide. Plotera can personalise tasks around your saved garden, location and planting dates.

ClimateSowTransplant / PlantHarvest
TropicalJan - DecJan - DecJan - Dec
SubtropicalAug - DecAug - DecOct - Mar
MediterraneanSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb
TemperateOct - DecOct - DecDec - Mar
CoolOct - DecOct - DecDec - Mar
AridSep - NovSep - NovNov - Feb

Botanical reference

Compare the whole plant first, then check the leaf, flower and harvest detail to identify what Sunflower should look like as it grows.

Sunflower whole plant

Whole plant

Overall shape, height, branching and growth habit.

Sunflower leaf detail

Leaf detail

Leaf shape, edges, colour and vein pattern.

Sunflower flower detail

Flower detail

Flower colour, structure and where blooms appear.

Sunflower harvest / detail

Harvest / detail

Fruit, root, seed, pod or the strongest identifying feature.

Cooking and eating ideas

A quick garden-to-table guide for using Sunflower after harvest.

Raw / fresh

Use edible flowers sparingly as colourful garnishes, salad accents, teas, or infused syrups when the plant is known edible.

Cooked

Use edible blooms in teas, fritters, syrups, baking, or as a garnish after cooking.

Store / preserve

Dry edible petals for tea or decoration where appropriate.

Try: Salad garnish, Tea, Syrup, Edible decoration.

Good companions

Cucumber, Squash, Corn, Tomato

Avoid near

Potato, Pole Bean

Growing note

Allelopathic — roots release compounds that inhibit some plants. Rotate position each year.

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