At full bloom in the home garden, Sunflowers make a bright and bold statement like no other. Their tall stalks and large yellow flowerheads attract more than just envious onlookers. They are a pollinator favorite, and will also draw in birds and other small animals like squirrels who enjoy snacking on their seeds. These landscape statement pieces come in different varieties and while most are yellow, there are also some red-hued sunflowers that are truly unique.
While their species is native to North America, they were first commercialized in Russia and cultivated for oil and seeds. In Ukraine, Sunflowers are a national symbol and a number one export, with over 6.5 million hectares of land dedicated to sunflower cultivation country-wide.
Growing Sunflowers in GardenSoxx® | Plant Family: Asteraceae
How to Grow Sunflowers in Your GardenSoxx®
As their name suggests, Sunflowers do love the sun and should be planted in an area where they will be exposed to it most of the day. Planted from seed, sunflowers will take at least 10 weeks to bloom, and the flower will stay in bloom for about 3 weeks before it goes completely to seed. Once this happens, you will want to harvest the seeds yourself or at least cover them until you are able to - otherwise, they risk being stolen by birds and squirrels.
Sunflowers also make excellent cut flowers for showing off inside your home. Cut the sunflower just as it starts to open to prolong its life in a vase as much as possible.
