Towards the Sun: 10 of the Best Sunflowers to Grow

If you have a strong imagination, you might find the claim that sunflowers face each other on downcast days heartwarming. Alas, the anthropomorphic attempt to humanize them is a false claim that has no basis in evolutionary biology. 

Yet, sunflowers continue to delight anyone who lays eyes on them, presenting a striking schematic in a field filled with them, their cheery flowerheads attuned towards the sun. Their golden helix of florets is both quirky and mystical, and as a member of the Asteraceae family, they continue to be the largest plant family on Earth. If being realistic makes you depressed and the idea of sunflowers deriving warmth from each other makes you smile, then by all means, keep on believing. Maybe in an alternate universe, this might very well be true. 

Basics to Choosing Sunflowers 

Sunflowers are annuals that tend to be on the taller side, with some varieties reaching mammoth heights of 15 ft, while compact varieties are only 1 – 2 feet tall. They can vary dramatically, from a gothic, archetypal yellow to a blazing red, and their petals can appear daisy-like or so double they resemble pom poms. 

Branching vs. Single-Stem Sunflowers: Branching types are more prolific, producing multiple sunflowers over a single period whereas single-stem sunflowers only bear one. The caveat is that branching sunflowers require longer blooming periods and more space to grow, making them more susceptible to disease. Single-stem are pollenless hybrids and are meant for the cut-flower market.  

Color: They are commonly available in shades of bright yellow, but can also appear in startling shades of orange, red, or the palest cream. 

 

1. ‘Red Courtesan’ Sunflower

This red variety of sunflower enchants with its velvety, crimson blooms and deep maroon centers. It’s a dramatic flower that connotes royalty, bringing to mind the lushness of a 16th century tapestry. Set against a white background, it presents a striking contrast; in garden beds, it’s sure to add a touch of glamour when juxtaposed with shorter blooms like marigolds. 

Notes: Branching variety with flowers 6 – 8 inches across, likely an open cultivar of 'Moulin Rouge'

2. Sunflower 'Coconut Ice'

Another fascinating variety of Helianthus, Coconut Ice is a newer cultivar that subverts the expectation of the egg-yolk yellow so omnipresent in sunflower depictions. Although considered a white sunflower, it’s actually a mellow shade of pale yellow, and can grow to be quite tall. 

Notes: Flowerheads are attractive to pollinators once they fill with seeds 

3. Sunflower 'Solar Flare'

While solar flares are often hyped up by doomsday cults as being associated with cataclysmic levels of disaster, this flower is far less worrisome – and far more cheerful. Its sprightly petals are ringed with bronze, tapering off to a flared yellow that resembles the fiery rays of the sun. Plants may reach up to 5 ft tall. 

Notes: Pollenless centers, bears resemblance to Ring of Fire

 

4. Teddy Bear Sunflower  

Definitely cuter than your pet dog, this sunflower is cuddly enough that you can reach out and grasp it. Each bloom is jam packed with tiny petals, and the effect is a poofy mass of flowers that makes it ideal for hedges and border plantings. If you already didn’t love sunflowers before, Teddy Bear will definitely sway your mind – it’s certainly captured the attention of van Gogh, who immortalized this cutesy genetic mutant in his paintings. 

Notes: Deadhead regularly to promote new blooms 

5. Sunflower 'Ms. Mars'

Sunflower 'Ms. Mars' may be shorter than average, but its gorgeously two-toned flowers and upright stalks, tinged with purple, are more than enough to make it stand out. From its very center, it radiates dramaticism, shifting from a merlot shade to a cream yellow. 

A stout flower that can tolerate partial shade, it is suited for mass plantings under old trees. 

Notes: Low-growing dwarf variety, vigorously branching, resembles a darker version of Strawberry Blonde 

6. Chocolate Cherry Sunflower 

Most sunflowers are sunny in disposition, but the Chocolate Cherry sunflower, a dark flower with a dark heart, prefers to stand aloof. Despite its sun-loving nature, it would be a top choice for a goth garden, where flowers of a darker shade dwell. Its marvelous blooms are a deep chocolatey burgundy, and it has the same dramatic pizzazz as a dahlia flower. 

Notes: A sturdy, multi-branching variety that grows pollenless  

7. Sunflower 'SunFill Purple'

As lovely as it is odd, this sunflower unfurls into spikes tinged with smoky purple for an unusual coronation, almost like a succulent. Its blooms persist on the stem indefinitely even as other flowers have wilted, offering a sort of melancholy beauty. Ranging from 4 to 6 ft in height, it’s a versatile flower that adds a tonal contrast to a flower bouquet. 

8. Lemon Queen Sunflower  

The Lemon Queen is a true majesty, with pastel lemon petals surrounding a chocolate-colored core. Its popularity with bees has made it a flower of choice for researchers tracking native honeybee populations and for gardeners cultivating native gardens. Producing luminous branches laden with flowers throughout the summer, it is drought-tolerant and not particularly fussy.  

Notes: Intensely attractive to bees 

9. ‘Double Dandy’ Sunflower

If bright colors aren’t your thing, then ‘Double Dandy’ sunflowers, harkening back to the rustic days of the Southwest, are bound to captivate with its wine-hued blooms. Raggedly improvisational yet handsome, it’s a compact variety that grows to a maximum of 3 feet. Its brother – Sundance Kid – is another heavily-ruffled sunflower that channels the free spirit of a bygone era. 

Notes: Pollen-free flowers, eye-catching in flower arrangements 

10. ‘Mammoth Gray Stripe’ Sunflower

For the classic giant sunflower often featured in magazines, go with the Mammoth Gray Stripe. It’s an iconic, if not ostentatious, sunflower that will grow to gigantic proportions. Given enough light and regular watering, it can reach impressive heights of up to 12 ft, potentially climbing to your two-story window. Space them at least 18 inches apart to give them adequate room, though this distance can be reduced in raised beds. 

Notes: Seeds are edible – birds love snacking on them