Do perennial sunflowers exist?
There are 82 species of sunflowers (genus helianthus), all native to north america. Of these, 38 are perennials. Sunflower breeders have crossed many of these species with the crop sunflower because they are a source of useful genes. Annual sunflowers complete their life cycle in one season, while perennial sunflowers reappear each year. If you have the space, consider planting both types to enjoy vibrant blooms and attract pollinators and birds to your garden.Sunflowers swing their heads by growing a little more on the east side of the stem — pushing the head west — during the day and a little more on the west side at night, so the head swings back toward the east.So if you are planting sunflowers, don’t plant them on the east side of your garden, as it will be your neighbours over the fence enjoying the pretty flowers while you spend the summer looking at the back of the flower. Plant sunflowers on the west side of your garden.Caring for sunflowers If you’re growing for height, feed them fortnightly with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser and then switch to a potash-rich tomato feed just before flowering. Stake tall varieties with a sturdy cane to prevent wind rock, especially if growing in an exposed position.
What is the fastest growing sunflower variety?
Flowering in only 40 days, Cherry Rose is quite possibly the fastest-blooming sunflower. The dazzling, 3 to 4 in. Sunflower Sunfinity A revolutionary new Sunflower, Sunfinity will thrive and bloom continuously all season long. Traditional sunflowers bloom late in the summer and the single blooms are enjoyed for only a short time.Most sunflowers are annuals, needing replanting each year, but certain types, like Maximilian sunflowers, are perennial and return every season. Planting them in late spring, once the soil warms, gives them the best start, especially in sunny, well-drained areas.The short answer is that it’s not too late. Consider that most ornamental and cut-flower sunflower varieties flower 60 days after planting on average. So, for most years, if seeds are planted by Aug. September to October.Sunflowers thrive in warm weather and on sunny days. In late spring or early summer, choose a location with direct sunlight and good drainage. The ideal spot will get between six and eight hours of sun each day. Be sure to choose a planting area for your sunflowers that has a lot of space.Annual sunflowers bloom during summer and into autumn. Sow new plants every few weeks and you’ll enjoy non-stop flowers until the first frost. Perennial sunflowers bloom for a period of 8-12 weeks with some beginning as early as July and others finishing as late as October.
How to grow perennial sunflowers?
Perennial Sunflowers will spread out by rhizomes. Space them at least 2-3 ft. Succession Planting: To enjoy continuous blooms from your annual Sunflowers, plant seeds every two weeks in succession from spring to early summer. Starting Sunflowers There are a few perennial types: Helianthus angustifolius ‘Gold Lace’, Helianthus ‘Flore Pleno’ and Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’. These varieties come back every year reaching lofty heights of 6-7′ tall with masses of 2-4” yellow flowers.Most sunflowers are annuals, needing replanting each year, but certain types, like Maximilian sunflowers, are perennial and return every season. Planting them in late spring, once the soil warms, gives them the best start, especially in sunny, well-drained areas.Native to the Tallgrass prairie, the perennial Maximilian Sunflower blooms from August to October, and comes back thicker every year. It spreads from rhizomes and seeds, and in all its glory reaches 4 to 6 feet tall.While we mostly know sunflowers as annuals, there are perennial varieties as well. These types are good for the flower garden because they consistently come back each year, providing bright, cheery flowers with less work. Most are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9.If I had to pick the easiest, most reliable sunflowers for the beginning grower as well as for no-nonsense succession-planting and harvesting, I would recommend the ‘Sunrich’ series or the ‘Pro Cut’ series, both of which are Single-stem varieties.
How do I know if my sunflower is a perennial?
Seed heads – Annual sunflowers can have either large or small seed heads, but perennial sunflowers have only small seed heads. While annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are the species grown for edible seed and oil production, the majority of Helianthus species are perennials. Many of these species are found growing along roadsides, woodlands, and in prairies. There are more than 30 species native to the central and eastern US.Giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) With its large seed-filled centers this perennial sunflower grows on a tall central stem, resembling the familiar annual sunflowers. Its tubers and seeds are edible and it’s an important food source for wildlife. It is cold hardy and prefers moist, marshy habitats.Annual sunflowers are short-lived plants and naturally die off in autumn, but if you collect some of the seeds you can easily grow new plants the following spring – see Propagating, below. Perennial sunflowers, on the other hand, live for many years. These vigorous plants will eventually form sizeable clumps.Feed sunflowers using a balanced formula with a ratio of 10-10-10 or a product low in nitrogen with a 5-10-10 NPK ratio. A balanced fertilizer will support the entire plant. Nitrogen supports heavy foliage growth, and nitrogen-rich fertilizers are a good choice for leafy plants.Sunflowers need full sun; see 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day – the more the better if you are trying to grow them to their maximum potential.
What’s the best month to plant sunflower seeds?
Plant seeds after the danger of spring frost has passed and the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees. This will be between March and May, depending on where you live. The best time to sow sunflower seeds is in late spring, once the soil has warmed to at least 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.In traditional areas during kharif, sunflower can be sown from 2nd fortnight of June to middle of July in light soils and up to 2nd fortnight of August in heavy soils.Seeds that have been stored in a cool, dry place are generally viable for at least a year past the season for which they were packaged and may be good for up to five years.Plant seeds after the danger of spring frost has passed and the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees. This will be between March and May, depending on where you live.