Sunflower ‘Sparky’

Helianthus annuus

Features

  • Easy to grow
  • Heat-loving
  • Medium producer

Description

Plants are tall, with outward-facing blooms and a vigorous branching habit ideally suited for flower arranging. Flowers have tubular quilled petals and dark chocolate centers in a mix of pale lemon-yellow dusted with cocoa and raspberry—coloring similar to that of ‘Sahara’ black-eyed Susans. Plants make great screening and attract birds.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 60 to 72 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 60 to 65 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 24 in
Pinch: when 18 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Sunflowers can be direct-seeded into the garden after all danger of frost has passed or started indoors in trays and transplanted out after 2 to 3 weeks.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest as soon as the first petals on a bloom start to lift off the central disk. Strip three-quarters of the leaves from the stem. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Details

Description

Plants are tall, with outward-facing blooms and a vigorous branching habit ideally suited for flower arranging. Flowers have tubular quilled petals and dark chocolate centers in a mix of pale lemon-yellow dusted with cocoa and raspberry—coloring similar to that of ‘Sahara’ black-eyed Susans. Plants make great screening and attract birds.

Details

Plant type: annual
Height: 60 to 72 in
Site: full sun
Days to maturity: 60 to 65 days
Plant spacing: 18 to 24 in
Pinch: when 18 in tall

Seed Sowing & Growing Notes

Sunflowers can be direct-seeded into the garden after all danger of frost has passed or started indoors in trays and transplanted out after 2 to 3 weeks.

Harvesting/Vase Life

Harvest as soon as the first petals on a bloom start to lift off the central disk. Strip three-quarters of the leaves from the stem. Expect a vase life of 7 to 10 days.

Sources

How to Grow

Seed-Saving Mini Course

Learn how to save seed from zinnia, dahlia, and celosia

In our free, three-part video series, you’ll learn everything you need to know to save seeds on a home scale, including how plants are pollinated and isolation techniques to ensure varieties come back true, how to tell when plants are ready to pick and how to harvest the seeds, and how to properly dry, clean, and store seeds long term.