20 Different Types of Sunflowers to Plant in Your Garden
They'll add a sprinkle of sunshine to any outdoor space! 🌻
Aside from relying on Mother Nature, planting a beautiful patch of sunflowers is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to add some sunshine to your outdoor space! This iconic, versatile flower known for its big, bright blooms comes in a variety of types, heights, and colors—and is a favorite among pollinators. There's a sunflower for every type of garden, with some being compact enough to fit snugly into pots or garden beds, while others can grow to heights exceeding 10 feet tall! Many varieties of sunflowers, especially those with multiple branches, are ideal for long-lasting bouquets. Before they're cut, though, sunflowers tend to track or follow the sun's position throughout the day, which is how they acquired their name.
Sunflowers are not picky about soil and, of course, they need tons of sun. Give them at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. You can plant them in rows or beds, with the taller types in the back. If you have rodents such as chipmunks in your garden, you may need to protect the seeds and seedlings by making a tiny cage of chicken wire, which the stems can grow through. Otherwise, you may find the plants chewed up by your hungry garden visitors! For types with edible seeds, such as Mammoth, harvest your sunflowers when the heads droop forward, the petals drop, and the seeds look plump.
If you're planning on growing your favorite types of sunflowers, you might also want to check out how to grow mums to get ready for fall!
For more fabulous flower ideas:
Mammoth Sunflower
Like the prehistoric wooly animal of the same name, Mammoth sunflowers are named for their large size, growing up to 12 feet tall with flowers that are 10 inches wide. This sunflower is one of the most iconic of the bunch due to its show-stopping size and effortless ability to grow.
Ring of Fire Sunflower
Aptly named for the ring of fire red around the chocolate brown center of this golden flower, the Ring of Fire sunflower is one of the most unique and head-turning flowers on this list. This sensational sunflower can reach 4 to 5 feet tall and, thanks to its long flower stems, is perfect for cut flowers. It was a former All-America Selection winner for its fiery blooms.
Teddy Bear Sunflower
With its characteristic fluffy petals, it's no wonder this sunflower has its adorable 'Teddy Bear' name! The plush golden blooms grow up to two feet tall and are ideal for planting at the front of borders or in pots.
Maximilian Perennial Sunflower
Unlike many of the sunflowers on this list, Maximilian is perennial in zones 3 to 9 and comes back from its roots year after year. The showy sunflower features multiple smaller flowers on each stem, creating a beautiful, long-lasting display in gardens and landscapes. They're also desirable to pollinators and wildlife, making them a popular choice for large perennial and wildflower gardens.
Soraya Sunflower
This eye-catching sunflower is renowned for its large golden-orange blossoms with chocolate-brown centers. Soraya sunflowers were the very first to receive the prestigious All-America Selections award, recognized for their exceptional performance in home gardens. It's a great choice for the back of borders but is also one of the best for cutting due to its multiple branches with up to 25 stems per plant.
Tithonia Fiesta del Sol
This bright orange Mexican sunflower loves heat and humidity. Its small 2 to 3-inch wide blooms make excellent cut flowers.
Florenza
This handsome sunflower with striking coloring reacts 15 to 30 inches tall and has a mild chocolate scent. What a fun plant!
Starburst Greenburst
This handsome sunflower grows from 12 to 24 inches tall and has pretty yellow petals with green centers. It's a great cutting flower.
Procut Red
This is one of the prettiest red sunflowers you can grow. It blooms a bit earlier than other sunflowers, at around 50 to 60 days.
Bambino
Small garden? This little guy tops out at 16 inches tall, so you can enjoy the beauty of sunflowers even if you have a more compact garden.
Del Sol Sunflower
This sunflower has the classic golden petals and chocolate brown center, but it's a hybrid type—so it won't shed on tabletops. Best of all? Del Sol is a fast grower, which means you can cut and enjoy in vases just 50 days after planting.
Buttercream Sunflower
Buttery yellow petals with a gorgeous dark brown center make this sunflower a lovely addition to any garden. Buttercream typically grow to about 4 feet tall with tons of side branches that make this variety a great cut flower.
Crimson Blaze Sunflower
This stunning sunflower has incredible, deeply saturated two-tone petals with a dark center. Crimson blaze reaches 5 to 6 feet tall and has plenty of branches for fresh-cut flowers all season. They're also loved by pollinators!
Chocolate Sunflower
Who doesn't like chocolate? The rich brown tones make this sunflower a great option to mix it up in the garden. Chocolate sunflowers grow to about 5 feet tall, and bees love them!
Sunray Yellow Sunflower
This adorable dwarf variety sports tons of flower power, but it tops out at just two feet tall. Sunray yellow sunflowers are a natural for pots and containers.
Strawberry Blonde Sunflower
Burgundy and pink petals make Strawberry Blonde a charming cut flower. Each plant produces one bloom, so plant lots of seeds for a longer show.
Rouge Royale Sunflower
Sunflowers don't have to be just sunny yellow. This one has deep burgundy petals with blooms up to 6 inches wide. Rouge Royale is especially lovely in bouquets.
Tiger Eye Sunflower
Gorgeous colors make this petite sunflower, which reaches about 30 inches, a must-have for borders and containers. Tiger Eye attracts tons of pollinators and has plenty of blooms for cutting to enjoy in a vase.
Little Becka Sunflower
Just 3 feet tall with 6-inch-wide flowers, this red sunflower is perfect in containers and borders. Little Becka also makes a fun, long-lasting cut flower.
Giganteus
These sunflowers grow up to 10 inches across for an amazing display on sturdy 6 or 8 foot stems. Tons of edible seeds make it a favorite of gardeners and birds alike!
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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