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Sunflowers are timeless beauty and charm. It is one of the most easily recognizable flowers in the world. Even a kindergartener will be able to point to these widely available sunflower varieties and correctly speak the flower’s name. Sunflowers are synonymous with summer, as this is the time when the flowers are in full bloom.
There are many varieties of sunflowers, both natural and hybrid. The names of the individual varieties will be discussed below, so please read on.
But before that, let us familiarise ourselves with sunflowers. The scientific name for these lively creations of nature is Helianthus annuus, which is derived from Greek. The beauty of sunflowers is not the only thing that people should be focusing on, as sunflowers are useful for many other reasons.
24 Stunning Sunflower Species You You Need to See!
Since the different types of sunflowers are put to various kinds of use, it makes sense to categorize them according to their appearance or their usage instead of a list with no seeming order.
1. Mongolian Giants
Living up to its name, this sunflower variety grows up to 14 feet tall and produces just one flower on a stalk. If that information does not convince you of how huge the flower is, then know this- each flower head grows up to 18 inches in diameter which are as big as the dinner plates you eat from or perhaps even bigger. The seeds from this sunflower are edible, and both humans and birds seem to benefit from it. However, you won’t see the seeds until after the petals fall off. The fleshy and chewy seeds extracted from the thick centre head can be eaten after gentle washing.
2. Mammoth Grey Stripe
Have you ever noticed those default wallpapers pre-loaded in our computers that always have a field full of sunflowers ? The sunflower varieties used for such default wallpapers are actually Mammoth Grey Stripes. This is another of the sunflower varieties that are quite huge and grow between 8 to 12 feet tall. The edible seeds aside, due to their height and bright yellow colour, this variety is also used as a pollinator in fields.
3. Super Snack
This is one of the hybrid sunflower varieties and is popular for its high-yield and edible seeds. The maximum height that this variety grows to is 5 feet, and it takes around 70 days for the flower to appear on the stalk. In a way, the Super Snack hybrid variety is a tinier version of the Mongolian Giants as they both look similar and also grow one piece on a stalk. The super snack may not be as large as the Mongolian giants, but they sure do not lose out on the quality of their edible seeds. These seeds are meaty and chewy in texture. They are harvested, and you can probably find them in the snack aisle of your nearest supermarket.
4. Titan Sunflower
The maximum height that a Titan sunflower grows to is 12 feet, and the flower heads are as big as 2 feet in diameter. The main stem is very strong, making it quite protected against strong winds, and there is also dense foliage from root to tip. The petals of the Titan sunflower are bright yellow with a dark brown centre. The seeds are as huge as dimes while being meaty and deliciously edible. This variety of sunflowers is definitely one of the largest ones and is mainly planted by professional gardeners who use the seeds for sale and further cultivation.
5. Skyscraper Sunflower
As one can guess from the name of this sunflower variety, these grow extremely tall, up to 16 feet or 5 meters. The flower heads are as big as 14 inches wide, while the foliage extends up to 2 feet from the stalk. This garden giant is often planted along fences as their dense foliage can serve as natural barriers. Skyscrapers usually can be found in full bloom during scorching summers, as this variety does well in both extreme summer and drought conditions.
6. American Giant Sunflower
The American Giant Hybrid Sunflower variety is, in short, very tall. These are truly huge in size as they grow up to 16 feet in height, sometimes even more. Depending on the cultivation technique and space available for the sunflower to grow, this variety can grow flower heads as wide as one foot in diameter. Another feature that sets the American Giant Cultivar apart is how strong the stems are. They are practically invulnerable to strong winds, unlike wide other tall, sunflower varieties.
7. Schweinitz’s Sunflower
This is one of the rarest types of sunflowers and is only found in the Piedmont of North and South Carolina in the USA. It is a rare variety, and thus it is treated as an endangered under both federal and state lists. The Schweinitz’s Sunflower can be easily recognized because of its thin and long petals and smaller than a usual bud in the centre. This sunflower variety is perennial, and its flowering season lasts for two to three weeks in early October.
8. Kong Giant Sunflower
Towering to a height of almost 16 feet, this is one of the tallest available sunflower varieties. The main stalk of this cultivar is exceptionally strong as it supports the bulky flower head that can grow up to 10 inches in diameter. The bright orangish-yellow colour of its petals easily catches one’s attention, and that is probably why this is a popular garden variety. Another reason behind this fact is that Kong sunflower seeds are high-yield, and the flowering duration is quite less.
9. Sunstastic Yellow Sunflower
As the name suggests, this sunflower variety has bright yellow flowers that are sure to lift one’s mood. This is a dwarf variety that can easily grow to its full size in plant pots or containers. The flower heads can blossom up to 6 inches, and the centre is chocolate brown. Each plant can produce up to 20 flowers in successive periods over the summer season. After the seeds are sown, the flowering takes less than 65 days.
10. Teddy Bear Sunflower
This variety of sunflowers has nothing to do with teddy bears except for the fact that it blossoms with majestic double-blooms with very short individual petals that make it feel soft like a teddy’s fur when touched. The maximum height this can grow to is around 3 feet and thus is perfect for planting under windows or inside containers. The final height of the plants may, however, vary depending on the size of the container they are planted in. If you use a very small container, then the root will not grow to its full capacity. This will also affect the height. It will grow to its full size only when given enough room for growth.
11. Sunspot Dwarf Sunflower
Sunspot Dwarf Sunflower varieties are short in height but have relatively larger blooms. For instance, the average flower of this variety grows a maximum of 3 feet, but the flower heads can grow up to 12 inches in diameter. The weight of the flower heads makes the flower always droop to one side. If the seeds are planted without much gap in between, then they can be utilised as boundary plants or for ground cover because of their dense foliage from the stalk root to tip.
12. Topolino
These are like really small and are perfect for planting on the ground as well as in containers. Topolino sunflowers grow up to a mere 16 inches, but don’t let that make you underestimate the flower. It stands out among the dwarf varieties because of its growing pattern branches out instead of growing on a single stalk. So you can expect dense and pretty foliage when planting Topolino sunflowers.
13. Mardi Gras Dwarf Sunflower
This is a dwarf sunflower variety that gives very bright bi-coloured flowers. The end of the petals are usually yellow-orange, and the colour gets deeper towards the centre, where a more dark-red or chocolate-brown colour is noticed. The average flowerhead grows up to 5 inches in diameter, which means that the head will not droop. This is why mardi gras is a popular garden variety, as it looks vibrant and can transform the visuals from simple to gorgeous.
14. Chocolate Sunflower
The name for this sunflower variety is a misnomer. The flowers are not always edible, but when they are edible, they taste nothing like chocolate. But if you take a look at the flower, you will get to know where the name comes from. The flowers are deep reddish brown, and unlike the mardi gras variety, where one seed packet can grow to a range of colours, Chocolate sunflower seeds almost always grow uniformly chocolate brown flowers . The maximum height of the Chocolate variety is 5 feet, and it is a great pollinator.
15. Santa Fe Sunflower
This is another of the bi-coloured sunflower varieties and also is a hybrid cultivar . The flowers are pollen-less and grow to a deep-burgundy colour that fades into yellow at the outer ends of each petal. The centre is deep-brown to black. Although without any pollen, the unique colour of the flower attracts insects all the same. This, too, is a popular gardening variety as it brings a vibrant aesthetic to the garden flora.
16. Italian White
Living up to the name, this sunflower grows to a beautiful and warm white colour with touches of light yellow towards the inner sides of the petals. The colour will surely remind you of soft-whipped cream if you ever see the flower first-hand. This is a dwarf variety, and the main stalk grows up to between 48 and 60 inches. Although the duration between the sowing of seeds and the full bloom is a bit long, around 110 days long, the wait is worth it as the plants give flowers continuously for a month.
17. Claret Sunflower
This is one of the most beautiful sunflowers you will ever have the fortune of seeing, and that is saying a lot because sunflowers are very beautiful in general. Having one of the darkest shades in the various sunflower varieties, the claret sunflower grows to a pleasant deep red with amber strokes along some of its petals. The flower centre is a deep brown. Claret sunflower seeds are edible and are often used as a baking ingredient. It is also just as good as a snack. The maximum height of this type is 6 feet.
18. Terracotta Sunflower
The Terracotta Sunflower is known for its uniquely coloured petals. The colours range between a rusty red with splashes of gold on it. It may remind the viewer of burnt bricks and hence the word terracotta in its name. The main stalk grows to a height of 5 to 7 feet, but since the blooms grow to a reasonable 4 to 7 inches in diameter, there is no drooping noted in this sunflower variety. Terracotta sunflowers are used as cut flowers in bouquets and decorations because of their long shelf life.
19. Gypsy Charmer
The average height of this type of sunflower is between 4 to 5 feet. However, if you plant them with enough space in between, they can grow to 6 feet easily. In terms of colour, Gypsy Charmers are unique as each petal is multi-hued with shades of bright yellow, rosy red, and a lighter shade of yellow at the ends. These are often used as cut flowers for their long shelf-life but also as a garden variety because of the aesthetics it brings in. Due to the same reason, it is also a great pollinator as birds and bees are attracted to its bright petals.
20. Valentine
With a height of about 1-1.5 meters, the flowers in this cultivar bloom to 1-2 inches, making it medium-sized among the various sunflower varieties. The petals are mostly a light primrose yellow that gradually darkens to a brighter shade towards the flower centre. Valentine sunflower is a fast-growing variety that produces single flowers in summer. On top of being easy to grow, it is also low-maintenance. Due to its long shelf-life, it can be used as a cut flower. These flowers act as good pollinators as they can easily attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Additionally, it is also resistant to certain animals, such as the deer.
21. Garden Statement
The petals of this sunflower are a very light lemon yellow, which contrasts with the dark centre. It blooms throughout summer and gives semi-double flowers for the entire flowering duration. Its flowering time is between July to September, so the sowing should be done between February and June. It is a multi-stalk sunflower variety that makes it a typical garden plant, but it looks good when cut and stored in a vase as well.
22. Copper Queen
The most striking thing about the sunflower Copper Queen is its rich orange hue. At first glance, the petals look orange, but if you look closely, the petals seem to be more reddish yellow that resemble bright orange only under glowing sunlight. The dark brown central disk of the flower also does not fail to complement the unique petal colours. The flowers grow up to a medium height of about 1.8 meters while the flowerheads bloom to a reasonable size, making them perfect for cutting and sale. While the size of these flowers kind of disqualifies them for a spot in the middle of the garden, they can still be adorned at the borders.
23. Ruby Sunset
This is a medium-sized sunflower variety that grows up to 1.5 meters and has similarly average-sized flowers. A unique feature of the ruby sunset is its colour. It is quite similar to the Claret type, but a clear point of difference is the ring of yellow surrounding the flower centre. It is good as a cut plant for its manageable size and can also be planted in the garden along the boundaries for its aesthetic value.
24. Black Magic
The name of this sunflower may contain the word black, but the flower is not black in colour. Actually, the petals grow to a deep red colour that appears black at first glance. This cultivar is also rare to source and needs special care when being grown. Only freshly harvested seeds can lend the unique black mixed with maroon and coppery red colour to the flowers. It can grow to 1.2 meters and is of the branching type; thus, the foliage is dense. Thankfully, the flowers keep coming throughout the summer, so the effort put into growing them is worth it.
Wrapping Up
Although this was a lengthy list of sunflower varieties, this barely covers even half of the information regarding the existing sunflower varieties in the world. There are more than 50 right now.
But there can be more in the future as people who practice gardening are always experimenting with creating new hybrids. This is because sunflowers are good crops that bring great profit to those who sell the flower itself and the associated products it has, such as oil and seeds.
Hopefully, by now, you should already have become a wizard when it comes to Sunflower knowledge. So, which varieties, or dare I say varieties, are you getting for yourself?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Growing Sunflowers Easy?
Yes, it is a rather easy process since the flower is resistant to heat and insects. They can also adapt to almost any kind of climate so that most varieties can survive with minimal upkeep.
Should I Plant Sunflowers in Pots or Beds?
To be honest, you can plant it in either of the two. For pots, the dwarf varieties of sunflowers are suitable, while for beds, you can go for medium-sized ones. If you plat medium-sized cultivars in pots, it may stunt their growth. The pots, too, have to be at least 16-18 inches deep for proper, timely flowering.
Should I Soak Sunflower Seeds Before Planting Them?
Sunflowers are quite tolerant of heat and can adapt to any climate, so it’s not necessary to do that.
How Much Sunlight Do Sunflowers Need?
Sunflowers need full direct sunlight daily for at least 6 to 8 hours. Otherwise, they will wilt and die.
