Tags: Open Pollinated

Growing Practices: No Pesticides No Herbicides No Fungicides No Synthetic Fertilizers

Latin Name: Helianthus annuus

Days to Maturity: 54

Description:

Want a sunflower that isn't so tall that it flops over in a storm PLUS is within reach to cut blooms for a bouquet? Then this is the sunflower for you! Stalks average 4-6 ft with 4-5 inch central heads and smaller side heads. Petals are streaked with beautiful reddish-orange coloration. Flowers are very attractive to pollinators and seeds are large enough to make good birdseed for attracting songbirds. Modern hybrids are usually pollen-less from a cytoplasmic male sterility trait. This means they offer little for the bees whereas this variety has them literally rolling in the pollen!

Flowers open approximately 54 days from sowing and continue flowering for about a month. Bred and grown in Morgantown, WV. Germination 94% 11-22-2023.

Story of this Seed:

This variety was derived from naturally intercrossing two heirloom sunflowers, 'Short Stuff' and 'Evening Sun', and is currently in the F5 generation. This means that some variability is still visible between individual plants.

Growing Tips:

Direct-sow after last frost when soil has warmed. Space plants 8-12 inches apart each way, sow 1/2 inch deep. Protect from slugs and snails when young. To save your own seeds, grow at a distance from other sunflower varieties or plant at a different time. Put paper or mesh bags over flowers after they have faded to prevent bird thievery.