One of the best ways to add huge color and interest to your flowerbeds, garden & landscape is by planting sunflowers. And that is especially true when you plant some of the most unique and beautiful sunflowers that don’t normally appear in flowerbeds!
With their bold blooms, towering stems, and bright colors, sunflowers instantly add life and energy to any garden space. They are easy to grow, quick to bloom, and incredibly versatile, making them a favorite for gardeners of all skill levels.
Sunflowers can be planted for many reasons. Some grow them for their dramatic height, others for their seeds, and many simply for the cheerful beauty they bring to flowerbeds, fences, and garden borders. But whether you have acres of space or just a few containers on a patio, there is a sunflower variety that will fit perfectly into your landscape.
From massive giants that stretch toward the sky to compact, fluffy varieties perfect for containers, sunflowers offer something for everyone. With that in mind, here are seven great sunflower varieties to grow, along with tips on how to plant and care for them successfully all season long.
Planting Sunflowers – 7 Gorgeous Varieties To Grow
1. Teddy Bear Sunflower
The Teddy Bear sunflower is one of the most unique and charming sunflower varieties you can grow. Instead of a single layer of petals, this variety produces fluffy, double blooms that resemble soft pom-poms.
Teddy Bear sunflowers typically grow two to three feet tall. Not only does it make them perfect for containers, but also for the front of flower beds. Their compact size and full blooms make them especially attractive in ornamental gardens. Affiliate Seed Link: Teddy Bear Sunflower Seeds
These sunflowers are excellent for cut flowers and are loved by pollinators. They are easy to grow from seed and bloom reliably throughout the summer when planted in full sun.
2. Planting White Nite Sunflowers
The White Nite sunflower offers a softer, more elegant look than traditional bright yellow varieties. Its creamy white petals surround a dark center, creating a beautiful contrast that works well in flower beds, borders, and cut flower gardens.
This variety typically grows between four and six feet tall, making it tall enough to stand out without overwhelming nearby plants. Italian White sunflowers are excellent for floral arrangements, adding a unique and refined look to bouquets.
Like most sunflowers, they prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, they are fairly drought tolerant and continue blooming even during hot summer weather. Affiliate Seed Link: Park Seed ProCut White Nite Sunflower Seeds
3. Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower
If you want a classic sunflower experience, Mammoth Grey Stripe is hard to beat. This is the iconic giant sunflower that many gardeners remember from childhood. With heights that can reach ten to twelve feet and massive flower heads, it makes a bold statement in any garden.
Mammoth Grey Stripe sunflowers are especially popular for seed production. Not only are their large heads are packed with striped seeds that can be harvested for snacks, they are also highly nutritious for birds as a feed. Affiliate Link: Seed Needs Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower Seeds
Because of their height, planting these sunflowers will work best planted along fences, barns, or garden edges where they can serve as a living backdrop. Staking may be helpful in windy areas to keep tall stalks upright.
4. Planting Skyscraper Sunflowers
True to its name, the Skyscraper sunflower is another towering variety that can rival Mammoth Grey Stripe in height. With long, strong stems and large blooms, it creates a dramatic vertical element in the garden.
Skyscraper sunflowers are perfect for adding height behind shorter annuals or perennials. Their long stems also make them excellent for cut flower arrangements, especially for tall vases or entryway displays. Affiliate Seed Link: Skyscraper Sunflower Seeds
5. Autumn Beauty Sunflower
Autumn Beauty sunflowers bring rich, warm tones to the garden that go far beyond the traditional yellow sunflower. Their blooms range in shades of bronze, orange, burgundy, gold, and deep red, often with multiple colors on a single flower.
This variety typically grows four to five feet tall and produces multiple blooms per plant, making it a great choice for garden borders and mixed beds. The colorful flowers also make stunning cut arrangements that add warmth and texture indoors.
Autumn Beauty sunflowers are known for their durability and ability to handle heat and dry conditions. Seeds germinate quickly and produce well in the heat! Affiliate Link: Autumn Beauty Sunflower Seeds – Extra Large Packet
6. Yellow Sunspot Sunflower
Yellow Sunspot sunflowers are a fantastic choice for gardeners who want bold color in a smaller space. The compact sunflowers feature deep bright yellow outer petals, creating a striking two-tone appearance.
Their manageable height makes them perfect for garden borders, raised beds, and larger containers. Sunspot sunflowers also work well when planted in groups, where their vibrant colors really stand out.
Despite their smaller size, Sunspot sunflowers still attract pollinators and bring plenty of visual impact to the garden. Affiliate Seed Link: Gardeners Basics, Dwarf Sunflower Seeds for Planting Flowers
7. Variety Packs
Planting a variety pack of sunflower seeds is one of the easiest ways to create instant excitement and nonstop color in your garden. Instead of putting all your effort into just one type, a mix gives you towering giants, medium growers, and compact plants all blooming together. Each seed brings a little surprise, making every row and garden bed feel fresh and unpredictable as the season unfolds.
One of the biggest advantages of a sunflower variety pack is the range of colors, shapes, and bloom sizes you’ll enjoy. From classic golden yellows to deep reds, bronzes, and even creamy whites, the flowers change week by week.
Different heights and bloom times also mean you get sunflowers opening over a longer period instead of everything peaking at once.
Variety packs are also perfect for attracting pollinators and wildlife while giving you options for cutting, seed saving, and natural garden beauty. Tall sunflowers can create a living backdrop or screen, while shorter varieties fill in beds and borders beautifully.
With just one packet of seeds, you get a full sunflower showcase that keeps your garden lively, colorful, and full of life all summer long. Affiliate Link: Variety Pack Sunflower Seeds
A Few Keys To Planting Sunflowers
Sunflowers are one of the most beginner-friendly plants you can grow in a home garden. Not only do they thrive in full sun, they also grow well in a wide range of soil conditions, and don’t require much maintenance once established. Even better, their seeds can be harvested to eat or feed birds. See: How To Harvest Sunflower Seeds – The Secret To Drying & Roasting Sunflowers!
They are fast growers, often sprouting within a week of planting and blooming in as little as 60 to 90 days, depending on the variety. Sunflowers are also resilient plants that tolerate heat and short dry periods, making them ideal for summer gardens.
In addition to their beauty, sunflowers provide important benefits to the garden. They attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects, and once the blooms fade, the seed heads become a valuable food source for birds and wildlife.
Plant directly in the garden once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed. They do not like cold soil, so waiting until late spring ensures better germination and stronger growth.
Plant sunflower seeds about one inch deep in loose, well-drained soil. Space seeds according to the variety, allowing more room for taller sunflowers and slightly closer spacing for dwarf types. Water the seeds well after planting and keep the soil consistently moist until seedlings emerge.
Sunlight, Soil, & Water Needs When Planting Sunflowers
Sunflowers thrive in full sun and need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. The more sun they receive, the stronger and taller they grow, and the more vibrant their blooms will be.
They prefer fertile, well-drained soil, but are adaptable to many soil types. Adding compost before planting helps provide nutrients and improves soil structure. Once established, sunflowers are fairly drought tolerant, but regular watering during dry periods will help them produce larger blooms and healthier stems.
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