The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), with its showy flowers and large stature, is a favorite summer plant that almost everyone recognizes. Common sunflowers are native to the Western United States and Mexico. The dense concentration of pollen in a single flower makes this sunflower a pollinator's paradise. They need a sunny location and soil that drains well to prosper. Their large flowerheads will orient themselves facing east as they mature so choose a site that takes advantage of that feature; they are most delightful to view if you are facing west towards them.

These plants are annuals and do not survive the winter but are easy to start as seeds for a fresh display each summer. Each seed takes only about 2 1/2 to 3 months from sowing to flowering maturity. You can extend the floral display by starting seeds at different times so that the flowers are staggered through the summer. Amend the planting area in advance with organic compost to improve richness and drainage. Begin seeds outdoors after the last frost date for your area, according to the instructions for depth and spacing on your seed packet. Large varieties need greater spacing to ensure robust growth, larger flower size and reduce the chance of fungal disease related to poor air circulation. You can find tips for successful seed sowing in our guide Seed Sowing and Planting Outdoors.

In our area, starting seeds outdoors in early May will result in flowers in late July and August. You can have flowers a few weeks sooner by starting your seeds indoors earlier in the season. Don't start too soon. Seeds will have germinated and be ready to plant outdoors in as little as three weeks. If you wait too long to move them, the plants may be weak and have less chance of maturing into vigorous plants. Plant these out a few weeks after the last frost date, when soil has begun to warm. Take time to transition the young plants to the new environment by bringing them outdoors for longer periods each day over approximately a week. You can find information for success in our Guide to Staring Seeds Indoors.

Flowerheads left on the stalk provide seed for migrating and overwintering birds. This is also the type of sunflower that produces seeds consumed by humans. If you would prefer to harvest the seeds you can cover the flowerheads with netting to reduce use by birds. 

Read more about growing sunflowers with suggested varieties to try in your garden in our Guide to Sunflowers.

Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service