Choosing Sunflower Varieties
A Hensley's Seed Co. guide, drawing on advice from Lynn Byczynski, founder of Growing for Market
Market-farming author Lynn Byczynski
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Sunflowers sell well and are an easy way for vegetable growers to try adding flowers to the mix. With dozens of cultivars available, though, getting started can feel overwhelming. Here we cover the strengths and drawbacks of each type and suggest varieties to match your needs and tastes.
The 2 Primary Types of Sunflowers
Cut-flower sunflowers come in two basic types:
The two are so different they're almost separate crops. Single-stem types are often the better fit for markets that want classic, uniform blooms, while branching types suit other growers and outlets. Here's how they compare.
Single-Stem, Pollenless Sunflowers
For new growers, and for anyone who wants straightforward succession planting and harvest, the 'Sunrich' and 'ProCut' series are among the easiest and most dependable choices, and both are Single-stem varieties.
Single-stem cut sunflowers are pollenless hybrids, so they don't dust tables, linens and clothing with pollen the way pollen-bearing sunflowers do. They're male-sterile: the flowers develop but produce no pollen, which makes them less likely to bother allergy sufferers and tends to extend vase life. They still make plenty of nectar, so bees and butterflies visit them, and they'll set seed if pollen-producing sunflowers grow nearby.
Another plus: many single-stem varieties bloom fast, ready to cut in about 60 days from sowing. There's also a good choice of day-neutral single-stem varieties for early spring or late fall hoophouse crops. (See our article on day length and flowering to learn more.)
Single-stem plants also give you more control over bloom size than branching types. Crowd them at 6" x 6" for smaller, bouquet-size flowers, or space them 12" apart for huge, dinner-plate blooms.
Their thick, sturdy stems and substantial flowers make a bold statement and fill out bouquets, which florists love. Vase life is excellent too, up to about 2 weeks in plain water.
The downside is that each seed gives you just one flower. (A few cultivars put out small side blooms in midsummer, but that's unusual.) For a continuous supply you'll need to sow every 10–14 days all season, and if you sell, price single-stem cuts high enough to cover the cost. That can work in your favor, though; see our three sunflower succession-planting programs for how.
Top-10 Single-Stem Sunflowers
- Earliest variety: 'ProCut Orange Excel'
- Top pick for downy mildew resistance: 'ProCut Orange DMR'
- Most uniform look and harvest timing: 'ProCut Horizon'
- Ideal for a soft, pale palette: 'ProCut White Lite' & 'ProCut White Nite'
- Best deep red single-stem: 'ProCut Red'
- Most uniform look and harvest timing: 'ProCut Horizon'
- Loved for its upward-facing, "lollipop" blooms: 'Vincent's Choice'
- Best for winter crops in the South; tall and elegant with classic looks: 'Full Sun Improved'
- Early single-stem with fluffy, Teddy Bear–style double flowers: 'Solano® Double'
- Top choice for seed, for people and wildlife alike: 'Royal Hybrid 1121'
Branching Sunflowers
Branching sunflower varieties bloom over a long stretch, so you don't have to sow them as often. They include many unusual colors, such as burgundy, chocolate, bronze and bicolors, and most double-flowered sunflowers (with several layers of petals) are branching. In short, this group brings plenty of flair.
On the downside, most branching sunflowers have shorter, weaker stems than single-stem types, usually take 65 days or more to flower, and need much more room; plant them about 18" apart. Their longer season also gives pests and diseases more time to strike, though it also feeds beneficial insects longer. Many branching cultivars shed a lot of pollen, so choose pollenless ones if that's a concern for your buyers. As a group they don't last as long in the vase, some only about 5 days.
Top-10 Branching Sunflowers
- Top branching picks for bouquets, with strong stems and small, uniform, upright flowers: 'Sonja' & 'Soraya'. (Note that both shed pollen.) 'Soraya' is also an All-America Selections winner.
- Best fast, pale-flowered pollenless variety: 'Valentine'
- Best sturdy-stemmed pollenless burgundy: 'Rouge Royale' (aka 'Moulin Rouge')
- Best multicolored, pollenless, day-neutral variety: 'Strawberry Blonde'
- Best mix for roadside stands and cutting gardens, with a balanced range of colors and shapes: 'Summer Breeze Mix'
- Best for big, gold, fully double flowers on very tall plants: organic 'Goldy Double'
- A favorite with chocolate lovers and bee lovers: 'Chocolate'
- Best for fragrant bouquets: 'Florenza'
- Best for dependable bicolor blooms on short, sturdy plants: 'Firecracker'
- A kids' favorite for pots, soft and fluffy: 'Teddy Bear'
More Varieties to Explore
These are only the basics, and every year new cultivars chip away at the drawbacks of each type. You can now find pollenless branching varieties that bloom in 60 days, like 'Gold Rush' and 'Rouge Royale'; fully double single-stem varieties like 'Solano® Double'; and striking bicolors like 'ProCut Red/Lemon Bicolor'.
The Sunrich and ProCut series are recommended because they deliver sturdy sunflowers with the classic look nearly everyone loves, which makes them easy to grow and easy to sell. They aren't fussy about timing, and the two series offer lots of colors. For a basic sunflower, they're the perfect place to start, and for experienced or ambitious growers they make a great foundation for succession planting and harvesting.
There are plenty more sunflowers worth trying: single-stem and branching, tall and dwarf, pollenless and pollen-bearing, plus unusual shapes, sizes and multicolors. In time you'll want to try others and find the combinations that work best for you.
