With their bright petals and massive height, sunflowers are hard to miss in home gardens. But while there’s no doubt that sunflowers are attractive plants, there are many different reasons why gardeners choose to grow them.
Sunflowers are popular choices for cutting gardens because their flowers are so spectacularly colored, and they last a long time in bouquets and vases. But sunflowers can also be grown for their edible seeds and flower heads, and some growers even keep sunflowers to win competitions or to attract pollinators to their gardens.
No matter why you want to grow sunflowers, you’ll find a selection of the top sunflowers for home gardens right here. In the list below, discover the best sunflowers for cutting, edible food crops, and much, much more!
Jump to:
Best yellow sunflowers for cut flowers
Sunflowers are common choices in cutting gardens, and they can be enjoyed in vases or in wedding bouquets. But while you can find sunflowers in various colors, sunflowers with golden yellow petals are irresistible, and many growers consider them to be the only sunflower type worth keeping. If you’re looking for bright, sunny yellow sunflowers for cutting, the cultivars below are just for you!
Sunrich Orange
| Sunflower variety: | Sunrich Orange |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 60 to 70 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 5’ |
For that classic sunflower look, ‘Sunrich Orange’ is hard to beat. This fast-growing sunflower matures in about 60 to 70 days and produces uniformly shaped sunflowers with sunny yellow petals and deep, chocolatey brown centers. These sunflowers are also pollen-free, which makes them great for bouquet making, although they won’t offer as many benefits to pollinators.
‘Sunrich Orange’ sunflowers grow to about 60” tall, and their flowers measure roughly 4 to 6” across when mature. As a hybrid type sunflower, ‘Sunrich Orange’ plants aren’t ideal for seed saving, but they are reliable growers that can’t help but draw the eye in cut flower displays and garden beds too.
Starburst Panache
| Sunflower variety: | Starburst Panache |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 60 to 65 days |
| Mature height: | 5 to 6’ |
‘Starburst Panache’ has that saffron yellow color we expect in sunflowers, but these beauties have an added twist! With semi-double blooms, ‘Starburst Panache’ flowers look a bit frilly, and they add excellent texture to cut flower displays. And, as a hybrid, pollen-free sunflower, you won’t need to worry about ‘Starburst Panache’ spreading yellow pollen into your home or on your clothes!
When mature, ‘Starburst Panache’ sunflowers grow between 5 to 6’ tall, and they produce an abundance of 4 to 5” flowers that will last quite a while in cut flower bouquets.
ProCut Orange
| Sunflower variety: | ProCut Orange |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 55 to 60 days |
| Mature height: | 6 to 7’ |
The ‘ProCut’ series is always a popular choice among florists and anyone who keeps a cutting garden. ‘ProCut’ sunflowers are prized for their uniform blooms that are pollen-free and come on a sturdy, single stem. You can find ‘ProCut’ sunflowers in an assortment of colors, but if you’re on the hunt for yellow sunflowers, ‘ProCut Orange’ is a top pick.
‘ProCut Orange’ sunflowers have deep, golden orange petals and dark brown centers. Flowers measure about 4 to 6” across, and the plants themselves grow up to 72” tall. You can plant ‘ProCut Orange’ on its own or try it out with other plants in the series, like ‘ProCut Plum,’ ‘ProCut Red’ and ‘ProCut Lemon.’
Soraya
| Sunflower variety: | Soraya |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 80 to 90 days |
| Mature height: | 5 to 6’ |
Most florists prefer non-branching sunflower varieties for cut flowers, but ‘Soraya’ can hold its own in bouquets, and its sheer productivity makes it one of the best sunflowers for cutting. Like other branching sunflowers, ‘Soraya’ can rebloom throughout the growing season, so you can get a lot of use out of a single plant. In fact, a single ‘Soraya’ sunflower can yield up to 25 blooms in one growing season!
‘Soraya’ sunflowers have well-formed, 4 to 6” wide blooms, and the plant can grow up to 70” tall. These plants have minimal pollen, and they can also be grown in greenhouses. Expect ‘Soraya’ to bloom about 85 to 95 days after planting.
Jua Maya
| Sunflower variety: | Jua Maya |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 45 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 5’ |
Pretty as a picture, ‘Jua Maya’ sunflowers boast lemon-yellow petals and deep, dark centers. These pollen-free hybrids grow to about 60” tall, and they look particularly appealing when planted en masse. But while ‘Jua Maya’ is aesthetically pleasing, many growers choose this sunflower for its super-fast growth rate.
‘Jua Maya’ sunflowers mature much quicker than most other sunflowers on the market, and they can be ready to harvest in just 45 days! That means you can actually plant several crops of these sunflowers in a single growing season and continue to harvest these beauties from summer to fall.
Green Heart
| Sunflower variety: | Green Heart |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 60 to 70 days |
| Mature height: | 5’ |
‘Green Heart’ sunflowers have a lighter appearance than many other classic yellow sunflower types. While these plants have the golden yellow petals we adore, their centers are a lighter golden to-green shade that makes them stand out. When mature, ‘Green Heart’ sunflowers grow to about 5’ tall, so they won’t overwhelm even smaller garden spaces.
Like many other cutting sunflowers, ‘Green Heart’ sunflowers are pollen-free, and they’re also hybrids. While they aren’t good for seed saving, they have been specially curated for their long-lasting blooms and vibrant color.
Best multi-colored sunflowers for cut flowers
Yellow sunflowers are the most traditional sunflowers for bouquet making and floral crafts. But if you like to play with unexpected and unusual colors, you may want to try out these non-yellow sunflower varieties instead!
Chianti
| Sunflower variety: | Chianti |
| Petal color: | Burgundy |
| Days to maturity: | 55 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 6’ |
One of the darkest sunflowers you can find, ‘Chianti’ will add dramatic flair to any cut flower display with its deep, burgundy petals and delicate gold flecking. As a branching sunflower, ‘Chianti’ can rebloom throughout the growing season, but it has pollen-free flowers, so you won’t need to worry about any dusty mess when you arrange these stunners in a vase.
‘Chianti’ flowers measure about 3 to 4” across, while the plant only grows to about 4 to 5’ high. A good choice for smaller garden spaces, ‘Chianti’ sunflowers take about 55 days to bloom.
Autumn Beauty
| Sunflower variety: | Autumn Beauty |
| Petal color: | Yellow to burgundy |
| Days to maturity: | 70 to 85 days |
| Mature height: | 5 to 8’ |
There are so many reasons to love ‘Autumn Beauty’ sunflowers. These plants have bright golden petals that fade into a deeper, burgundy hue towards the center of the plant, and their dark, chocolatey interiors add a delightful contrast too. These plants are open-pollinated as well, which means you can save ‘Autumn Beauty’ seeds for next year’s garden and keep your sunflowers going year after year.
Additionally, because ‘Autumn Beauty’ sunflowers are rich in nectar and pollen, they’ll attract plenty of butterflies and bees to your garden, as well as beneficial insects that will keep pests in check. Just keep in mind that these plants take a bit longer to mature, but they’re ready to pick towards the end of summer, about 85 days after planting.
The Joker
| Sunflower variety: | The Joker |
| Petal color: | Yellow and burgundy |
| Days to maturity: | 60 days |
| Mature height: | 6 to 7’ |
‘The Joker’ sunflower is an interesting and very colorful option, with bright yellow and red petals that form a concentric ring towards the center of the flowerhead. As a semi-double bloom sunflower variety, ‘The Joker’ flowers have lots of texture, too, and they are certain to be the stars of any cut flower arrangement.
Another pollen-free, hybrid sunflower, ‘The Joker,’ was specially designed for its vigorous growth and high productivity. Like other branching type sunflowers, ‘The Joker’ can rebloom throughout the season, and the plants grow to about 6’ tall. If you’re looking for a sunflower to plant around the borders of your garden or toward the back of your flower beds, you may want to try out this showy sunflower!
ProCut White
| Sunflower variety: | ProCut White |
| Petal color: | Creamy white |
| Days to maturity: | 50 to 60 days |
| Mature height: | 6 to 7’ |
‘ProCut White’ sunflowers have the sturdy stems and uniform flower shapes that we’ve come to expect from the ‘ProCut’ series. But this eye-catching sunflower variety has creamy white petals that have a dainty and airy quality to them that’s truly unique. Growers can choose between ‘ProCut White Lite’ and ‘ProCut White Nite,’ depending on whether they prefer dark or light flower centers.
Both varieties of ‘ProCut White’ sunflowers are pollen-free, and they mature in about 55 days. If you’re looking for sunflowers for wedding bouquets, ‘ProCut White’ is an excellent choice. But be warned: lighter sunflowers are more prone to insect damage, so you may want to harvest your plants often or try out companion planting to keep troublesome pest insects away from your flowers.
Ruby Eclipse
| Sunflower variety: | Ruby Eclipse |
| Petal color: | Creamy white and burgundy |
| Days to maturity: | 50 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 5 ½’ |
‘Ruby Eclipse’ sunflowers look like a summer sunset with creamy white petals that transition into a pinkish-plum color towards the plant’s center. Another good pick for cut flowers, ‘Ruby Eclipse’ blooms are free of pollen, and they’re quite large -- measuring about 6 to 8” across. The plant itself reaches about 5 ½’ tall when mature, and the plant’s multiple branches bend daintily in a fountain-like form.
‘Ruby Eclipse’ starts blooming about 55 days after planting. Yet these plants can produce multiple flushes of flowers, allowing you to harvest them again and again.
Van Gogh’s Fantasy Mix
| Sunflower variety: | Van Gogh’s Fantasy Mix |
| Petal color: | Various shades |
| Days to maturity: | 60 to 70 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 7’ |
No one has ever captured the beauty of sunflowers quite like Van Gogh, so it’s perfectly fitting that he has had a number of different sunflower cultivars named after him. And one of the most spectacular of the bunch is ‘Van Gogh’s Fantasy Mix,’ which contains an assortment of single and double-bloom sunflowers with solid and bicolored petals. After planting this seed mix, don’t be surprised if you get a near rainbow of sunflower colors with petals in various shades of gold, maroon, amber, copper, and pink.
‘Van Gogh’s Fantasy Mix’ is rarely sold in stores, but you can find it online or order it from a specialty seed catalog. The sunflowers in this blend are opportunistic growers, and they’ll grow larger and produce more blooms if you provide them with plenty of space, water, and sunlight.
Best sunflowers for seeds and grilling
Sunflowers aren’t just ornamental. These multipurpose plants are also edible, and they can be harvested for their protein-packed seeds or grilled whole on a barbecue for a savory summertime treat! While all sunflowers are edible, the sunflowers in the collection below are some of the tastiest flowers you can find.
Mammoth Grey Stripe
| Sunflower variety: | Mammoth Grey Stripe |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 100 to 110 days |
| Mature height: | 9 to 12’ |
While you can eat any sunflower, it’s commonly agreed that the tastiest sunflowers for seeds and grilling are larger sunflowers that produce big, striped seeds. And one of the most popular and easy-to-find sunflowers in this category is the ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ sunflower, which produces tons of seeds on its big, 12” wide flowerheads. These sunflowers are also always a hit with bees and other pollinators!
‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ sunflowers are massive plants that grow up to 12’ tall. Because they’re so big, these sunflowers need plenty of room to grow, and they also take a bit longer to mature. When grown from seed, ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ sunflowers generally bloom in about 110 days, and their seeds are ready to harvest about 1 month after that.
Mongolian
| Sunflower variety: | Mongolian |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 90 days |
| Mature height: | 12 to 14’ |
While the ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ is definitely a behemoth, ‘Mongolian’ sunflowers are even bigger, and they grow up to 14’ tall! Flowerheads range from 16 to 18” in width, and they’re packed with seeds that can be eaten as snacks or grilled right on the flowerhead. If you want to get the most out of ‘Mongolian’ sunflowers, make sure you grow them in fertile earth and fertilize them regularly throughout the growing season.
Russian Mammoth
| Sunflower variety: | Russian Mammoth |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 80 days |
| Mature height: | 12 to 14’ |
Another giant of the garden, ‘Russian Mammoth’ sunflowers grow about 12’ tall, and they begin to bloom about 90 days after planting. These sunflowers are ideal for eating, but they’re also highly attractive to birds and other wildlife. If you’re worried about birds gobbling up all of your sunflower seeds, pick your flowers as soon as the seeds mature and hang the flowers up to dry indoors until all the moisture has evaporated.
Hopi Black Dye
| Sunflower variety: | Hopi Black Dye |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 90 to 100 days |
| Mature height: | 10’ |
‘Hopi Black Dye’ sunflowers have a bit of history to them, and they have been grown by the peoples of the First Nations for generations. As their name implies, these sunflowers can be used to make a natural black dye to color fabrics and wool, but these plants are also edible and delicious! ‘Hopi Black Dye’ sunflower seeds are a dark color, but their petals are that classic, sunny yellow that’s so common with sunflower cultivars.
Best sunflowers for pollinators
Sunflowers are some of the best plants to grow for pollinators thanks to their wide flowerheads, which make for easy landing pads for even large bees and butterflies. Most sunflowers are also rich in nectar and pollen, providing an important food source for insects -- and birds adore sunflower seeds too. However, if you’re trying to attract pollinators to your garden, you may want to avoid pollen-free sunflowers and try out these other pollinator-friendly blooms instead!
Lemon Queen
| Sunflower variety: | Lemon Queen |
| Petal color: | Bright yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 100 days |
| Mature height: | 5 to 9’ |
‘Lemon Queen’ sunflowers are such pollinator magnets that they are the sunflower cultivar used by the Great Sunflower Project to study native bee populations. Bursting with protein-rich pollen and sweet, sweet nectar, ‘Lemon Queen’ has a lot to offer wildlife, but their reblooming flowers also make spectacular bouquets, and they’re good for eating too! Drought and heat-tolerant, ‘Lemon Queen’ sunflowers grow between 5 and 7’ tall, and they’ll keep your garden brimming with color from summer to fall.
Sonja
| Sunflower variety: | Sonja |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 100 days |
| Mature height: | 4 to 5’ |
‘Sonja’ sunflowers are another good choice for pollinator gardens, but their golden-yellow petals are also fantastic in cut flower displays. These branching sunflowers have a long bloom time, and their flowers last for ages in vases as well. Bees can’t resist all the pollen in ‘Sonja’ blooms!
Black Russian
| Sunflower variety: | Black Russian |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 70 to 100 days |
| Mature height: | 12 to 15’ |
With bright, yellow petals and a dark center, ‘Black Russian’ has that classic sunflower look, and its large seedhead provides excellent forage for bees, birds, and other critters. Like the ‘Russian Mammoth’ sunflower, ‘Black Russian’ is a beast of a plant with a sturdy stem that can stretch 12 or even 15’ tall. But, despite their size, ‘Black Russian’ sunflowers bloom relatively early – just 65 to 75 days after planting!
Velvet Queen
| Sunflower variety: | Velvet Queen |
| Petal color: | Orange to burgundy |
| Days to maturity: | 75 to 100 days |
| Mature height: | 5 to 7’ |
‘Velvet Queen’ sunflowers are often used around garden borders as color accents, but their showy, coppery red petals draw pollinators too! These sunflowers grow about 5 to 7’ tall, and they begin to bloom in as little as 75 days. And, while ‘Velvet Queen’ may be known as a pollinator-friendly sunflower, it also produces vibrant cut flowers with straight and sturdy stems.
Best sunflowers for competitions
Have you ever dreamed of winning a competition for the biggest sunflower in the county? These colossal sunflowers can help you claim that blue ribbon!
American Giant Sunflower
| Sunflower variety: | American Giant Sunflower |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 80 days |
| Mature height: | 14 to 17’ |
You better pull out your ladder if you want to pick blooms from this monster sunflower! ‘American Giant’ sunflowers are the sunflower of choice in many sunflower competitions because they grow taller than pretty much any other sunflower variety you can find. When properly maintained, ‘American Giant’ can stretch up to 16 or 17’ tall, and they have nice, sturdy stalks too!
Sunzilla
| Sunflower variety: | Sunzilla |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 90 days |
| Mature height: | 10 to 16’ |
‘Sunzilla’ is another huge sunflower variety that may just take the gold at the county fair! These big beauties grow up to 16’ tall, but they also have delightful, lemony petals that make fantastic garden accents. Even if you don’t want to grow an award-winning sunflower, ‘Sunzilla’ is still a fun plant to keep, and its height can also make your garden feel much more private!
Kong Giant
| Sunflower variety: | Kong Giant |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 80 days |
| Mature height: | 14 to 17’ |
‘Kong Giant’ can give any other giant sunflower a run for its money! Growing up to 17’ tall, ‘Kong Giant’ has bright, golden-orange flowers that measure about 10” across, and this sunflower also has ultra-strong stems. Not to mention, ‘Kong Giant’ is a rapid and vigorous grower, and it can bloom just 80 days after planting.
Best dwarf sunflowers for small spaces
While giant sunflowers can help you win the gold at competitions, if you have a small space garden, massive sunflowers may not be an option. However, there are plenty of mini sunflower varieties that will grow beautifully in urban gardens or even in a pot on a sunny front porch!
Dwarf Sunspot
| Sunflower variety: | Dwarf Sunspot |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 60 days |
| Mature height: | 2 to 3’ |
No room for sunflowers? No problem! ‘Dwarf Sunspot’ may be tiny, but it offers all of the benefits of much larger sunflower varieties.
‘Dwarf Sunspot’ sunflowers have golden yellow petals, and their flowers are quite large even though the plant only has 24” tall stems. You can use ‘Dwarf Sunspot’ in cut flower arrangements, or you can eat the petals as salad toppers or gobble up the plant’s edible seeds.
A truly, multi-purpose plant, ‘Dwarf Sunspot’, can be planted as a short border plant near your vegetable garden to lure in pollinators and increase your harvest yields. Or you can simply enjoy this charmer by keeping it in a small pot on your patio.
Toppolino
| Sunflower variety: | Toppolino |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 75 to 90 days |
| Mature height: | Up to 16” |
‘Toppolino’ sunflowers are branching-type sunflowers that can bloom over and over again. ‘Toppolino’s’ cheerful yellow flowers are a hit with pollinators, and they’re also good for cutting. Mature plants only reach about 16” tall, which makes them a good plant to grow towards the front of garden beds or in containers.
Teddy Bear
| Sunflower variety: | Teddy Bear |
| Petal color: | Golden yellow |
| Days to maturity: | 75 days |
| Mature height: | 2 to 3’ |
Cute as a button, ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers have highly textured, golden blooms that look a bit fuzzy at first glance – much like a teddy bear! These dwarf sunflowers grow to about 42” tall in gardens, but if you keep them in pots, plants will often stop growing when they’re just 12” high. A top choice for children or any garden with limited space, ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers have minimal pollen, and they bloom in about 65 days.
Summary
While all sunflowers are beautiful and edible, some sunflower cultivars are simply better for cut flowers than others. And, if you want an edible crop, there are sunflower types that are perfectly suited for that too! No matter the size of your garden, you can find a sunflower variety to suit your space, your growing needs, and your personal gardening style.
We hope you enjoyed this exploration into the wonderful world of sunflowers. But if you choose to grow these beauties, don’t forget to safeguard them from deer with these simple tips!
Leave a Reply