Sunflower, perennial

A big, bodacious, beautiful plant, perennial sunflower is imposingly tall and floppy with large (up to 4-inch), bright yellow flowers that form in loose clusters. Most of these natives thrive in full sun and are not fussy about soil. The taller ones may need support. Excellent for cut flowers.

Light:

Sun

Zones:

4-9

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

3-10 feet tall

Plant Width:

3-4 feet wide

Landscape Uses:

Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers,Cut Flowers,Attracts Birds,Attracts Butterflies,Drought Tolerant,Tolerates Wet Soil,Deer Resistant,Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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'Lemon Queen' sunflower

Helianthus x 'Lemon Queen' is a bold plant that reaches 4-6 feet tall. Its single, light yellow flowers are produced in abundance from midsummer to fall. Staking may be necessary if soil is rich. Zones 5-9
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'Low Down' sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius 'Low Down' packs the flower punch of tall perennial sunflowers but only grows 18 inches tall. It requires no staking and blooms from midsummer to fall. Zones 5-9
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Swamp sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius bears masses of bright yellow daisies with brown-purple centers atop rough, 6-foot-tall stems in early fall. Zones 6-9
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See All Kinds

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Jerusalem artichoke
Sunflower, annual

Garden Plans

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Fall Color Garden Plan
Easy-Care Summer Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Dahlia

The scarlet single flowers and dark leaves of 'Bishop of Llandaff' dahlia are striking companions for perennial sunflowers in full-sun gardens.

Daylily

Yellow, gold, orange, and mahogany daylilies bloom at the same time as the earlier sunflowers and provide a different flower form.

Salvia

'Black and Blue' salvia has a stature similar to many perennial sunflowers and bears deep blue, two-lipped flowers with black calyces.

Propagation

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Seed
Division
Stem Cuttings