Growing sunflowers is one of the easiest ways to add beauty, wildlife habitat and practical value to your garden. Whether you’re planting towering mammoth varieties for birds, colorful branching types for pollinators or sunflowers to improve soil health, these cheerful flowers offer benefits far beyond their bright blooms.
Key Takeaways
- Growing sunflowers improves soil by loosening compacted ground and helping remove certain contaminants.
- Sunflowers attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and beneficial insects.
- They provide nutritious feed for poultry, livestock and wild birds.
- Most sunflowers grow best when direct-seeded after the last frost.
- Sunflowers thrive in full sun and well-drained soil.
Why Growing Sunflowers Has Been Popular for Centuries
The sunflower was a staple food in some Native American tribes even before Christopher Columbus arrived in America in 1492. The natives used sunflowers and their seeds for food, but they also used the oil found in sunflower seeds to improve skin and hair health and make war paint.
Sailors brought fertile seeds back to Europe, where they quickly gained popularity across the continent. In 1716, an English patent was granted to study the squeezing of sunflower oil from the sunflower seed.
Sunflowers were later reintroduced to the United States when Russian immigrants brought fertile seeds with them to the new land. Both Native Americans and European immigrants were soon using sunflower oil for medicinal purposes.
These days, sunflowers are largely grown for ornamental purposes and bird food, but researchers have discovered there are several other reasons to consider planting sunflowers.
Growing Sunflowers Improves Soil Health
Growing sunflowers in your garden or a field is a good way to improve soil health. With their long roots, sunflowers help to aerate the soil, breaking up dirt for better root health and water penetration.
Another plus to growing sunflowers is that these delightful flowers not only improve soil by breaking it up, but they also work to draw out harmful toxins from the soil. The sunflower’s phytoremediation properties help to clean up soil that has been polluted by heavy metals and other chemicals, and the roots help to cleanse the soil of toxins.
Growing Sunflowers as a Cover Crop
Growing sunflowers as a cover crop is increasing in popularity, as more farmers are turning to these tall flowers to remove toxins, aerate soil, and ready fields for more sensitive plants. Often used as warm-weather cover crops, sunflowers can be planted alone or mixed with other cover crop varieties.
Plant sunflowers as a cover crop when ground temperatures hold steady between fifty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Sunflowers can also be planted after wheat or barley has been harvested to clean and aerate the soil for next year’s planting.
Growing Sunflowers Attracts Pollinators
If you have ever tried growing sunflowers, you have probably noticed that these cheerful yellow blooms attract many kinds of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. While the flowers do attract both honey bees and bumble bees, they also attract important native solitary bees.
Native solitary bees make up approximately ninety-eight percent of the bee population found in North America. Nearly twenty percent of these solitary bees are facing extinction, making them some of the most critically endangered pollinators in the United States.
Growing Sunflowers Attract Beneficial Insects
Growing sunflowers doesn’t only attract beneficial pollinators; it also attracts other beneficial bugs, including ladybugs, beetles, parasitic wasps, and hoverflies, which often come to sunflowers to feed on common garden pests.
Growing Sunflowers for Poultry and Livestock
Sunflowers have been used to supplement poultry and livestock feed for centuries. Chickens, ducks, and other poultry benefit from the nutrients found in the seeds. High in protein, vitamins A and E, and many other nutrients, sunflower seeds are an excellent feed supplement for laying poultry.
Cattle, goats, and sheep also benefit from this highly nutritious plant. The stalk, leaves, and seeds are all safe for ruminants to consume and are a wonderful treat or feed supplement. The combination of protein, fat, and fiber produces deep, lasting energy, making sunflowers a sustainable feed for livestock.
Like all supplemental feed, sunflowers and sunflower seeds should not exceed ten percent of the daily diet.
Growing Sunflowers for Wild Birds
Growing sunflowers to feed the wild birds is a fun and rewarding endeavor. Birds rely on the high-energy seed to survive winter, defend territories, and raise young. Sunflowers attract many wild bird species to the garden, including cardinals, chickadees, finches, grosbeaks, jays, mourning doves, nuthatches, sparrows, titmice, and various woodpeckers.
Wild birds enjoy picking fresh seeds from the head, or you can hang dried heads in the tree for birds to peck at.
How to Plant Sunflower Seeds
Sunflowers are generally easy to grow from seed. To grow sunflowers from seeds, plant one seed directly into the soil following the directions on the seed package.
Sow seeds directly into the ground after the last potential frost date and when ground temperatures hold steady between fifty and sixty degrees Fahrenheit. For mammoth sunflowers and branching sunflowers, plant seeds every two to three feet. For smaller, single-head varieties, plant seeds twelve to eighteen inches apart. Water seeds every one to two days.
Planting Tip: Press each seed into the ground about one-half inch deep. Do not cover with extra soil.
Best Conditions for Growing Sunflowers
Growing sunflowers successfully starts with giving them the right environment. Most sunflower varieties thrive in full sun, receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. The more sunlight they receive, the sturdier their stems and the larger their blooms are likely to become.
Sunflowers grow best in well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. While they tolerate a range of soil types, adding compost before planting helps improve drainage and provides nutrients for healthy growth.
Wait until all danger of frost has passed before planting sunflower seeds. Soil temperatures should remain between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Although sunflowers are fairly drought-tolerant once established, consistent moisture during germination and early growth encourages stronger root systems and healthier plants.
Choose a planting location with enough space for mature plants. Tall varieties can cast significant shade, so place them where they won’t block sunlight from shorter vegetables or flowers. If your garden is especially windy, planting sunflowers near a fence or other windbreak can help protect towering varieties from storm damage.
How to Transplant Sunflowers
To transplant sunflowers, start by planting one seed in a six-inch pot. Water seeds every day or two. Place in a sunny area on a porch until seeds have sprouted and plants reach three to six inches tall.
With a garden trowel, dig a hole big enough to set the entire pot in. Gently remove the dirt and plant from the pot and place them in the hole, being careful not to damage the roots. Pack the dirt firmly around the plant. Water daily for seven to ten days before slowly transitioning to less frequent watering.
Planting Tip: Press the soil firmly around a transplanted sunflower after daily waterings to help the stem grow straight and strong.
Caring for Growing Sunflowers
Growing sunflowers requires relatively little maintenance once plants are established. During the first few weeks, water deeply whenever the top inch of soil begins to dry. After their roots are established, most sunflower varieties only need supplemental watering during extended dry periods.
Applying a layer of mulch around the base of each plant helps conserve soil moisture, reduce weeds, and regulate soil temperatures. Keep mulch a few inches away from the stem to prevent excess moisture from collecting around the base of the plant.
Most home gardens do not require additional fertilizer if the soil has been amended with compost before planting. In fact, too much nitrogen can encourage leafy growth while reducing flower production. If plants appear pale or slow to grow, a balanced fertilizer applied according to package directions can provide a helpful boost.
Remove weeds while plants are young to reduce competition for water and nutrients. As the flowers mature, watch for birds and squirrels that may begin harvesting seeds before you’re ready. If you plan to save seeds for yourself, covering ripening flower heads with lightweight mesh bags can help protect your harvest while still allowing air circulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow sunflowers?
Most sunflower varieties germinate within 7 to 10 days and bloom about 70 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety and growing conditions. Smaller sunflowers often bloom sooner than giant or mammoth varieties.
Can you grow sunflowers in pots?
Yes. Dwarf and compact sunflower varieties grow well in containers with drainage holes. Choose a pot that is at least 12 inches wide and deep, fill it with quality potting mix, and place it where the plant will receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Water container-grown sunflowers more frequently than those planted in the ground.
Do sunflowers come back every year?
Most garden sunflowers are annuals, meaning they complete their life cycle in one growing season and must be replanted each year. However, some perennial sunflower species return year after year, although they typically have smaller flowers than the familiar annual varieties.
Do sunflowers rebloom?
No, most sunflower varieties produce only one flower per stalk. Once that bloom has faded, the stalk will not produce another flower. Branching sunflowers are the exception, producing multiple blooms over a longer period, but each individual flower blooms only once.
How much sun do sunflowers need?
Sunflowers grow best in full sun, receiving at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. More sunlight generally produces sturdier stems, healthier plants, and larger blooms.
Do sunflowers need staking?
Most sunflowers do not require staking. However, exceptionally tall varieties grown in windy locations or rich soil may benefit from gentle support. If staking is necessary, use a sturdy stake and soft plant ties to avoid damaging the stem.
Do sunflowers really follow the sun?
Yes. Young sunflower plants track the sun from east to west during the growing and budding stages, a process known as heliotropism. Once the flower opens, it usually stops moving and remains facing east for the rest of the season.
Why Growing Sunflowers Is Worth It
Whether you’re growing sunflowers to brighten your landscape, improve soil health, feed backyard chickens or attract pollinators, these versatile plants earn their place in almost any garden. With just a little sun, warm soil and regular watering during establishment, you’ll enjoy months of cheerful blooms followed by nutritious seeds for wildlife, livestock and your family.
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