Sunflowers

Sunflowers

Botanical name: Helianthus

Plant type: Flower 📷 Sun exposure: Full Sun Soil type: Sandy, Loamy Soil pH: Neutral, Alkaline/Basic Flower color: Yellow Bloom time: Summer Sunflowers are annuals with showy, daisylike flowerheads that are usually 2-4 inches across and bright yellow (though occasionally red). Tall and course, the plants have creeping or tuberous roots and large, bristly leaves. Today, varieties have even been developed for small spaces and containers. Most sunflowers are remarkably tough and easy to grow as long as the soil is not waterlogged. Most are heat- and drought-tolerant. They make excellent cut flowers and many are attractive to bees and birds.

Notes

Summer 2014

Success! Briefly :( Planted seeds in pots with some Begonia and they grew happily. They did need to be staked once they started to grow but I thought we were finally going to have sunflowers. Alas, something dug them up and had a good old nibble on the seeds/roots. Next year I'll try putting down some chicken wire to keep critters out of the seeds.

Summer 2013

Tried growing from seed this time. Not much success - I think I overwatered.

Summer 2011

Picked up 2 established plants at the garden center but they were not all that happy along the side of the porch. Maybe I didn't water them enough? Maybe too much sun - plants tend to get fried in that spot.