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Scientific Name:
Helianthus annuus cvs.
Pronunciation:
hee-lee-AN-thus ANN-you-uss
Common Name:
sunflower
Family Name:
Asteraceae
Plant Type:
Annual, Flowering cut plant, Flowering pot plant
Key ID Features:
Stems hairy; leaves broad, coarsely toothed; flower heads are often used to depict the sun.

Habit:
Upright
Form:
Oval - vertical
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
3 - 5m
Mature Spread:
1.5 - 2.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Garden origin, North America
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 9: (-7 to -1 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Attract beneficial insects, Attract birds, Bedding plant, Container planting, Cut flower or foliage, Dried flower or fruit, Fall interest, Floristry, Herb, Medicinal plant, Perennial border, Summer interest, Wildlife food
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown may include H. 'Big Smile' and H. 'Velvet Queen' (red flower heads). Compare to H. giganteus.

Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Alternate
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Pinnate venation
Surfaces:
Rugose, Pubescent
Colour in Fall:
Green-yellow
Shapes:
Ovate
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Obtuse
Margins:
Ciliate, Dentate

Inflorescence Type:
Head (capitulum), Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Corolla Shape:
Ligulate
Ovary Position:
Inferior
Colour (petals):
Showy, White, Orange, Yellow, Red, Dark-red (cv. 'Big Smile' is yellow and cv. 'Velvet Queen' is red)
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Cultivar on left is Helianthus annus 'Big Smile'

Fruit Type:
Achene, Edible
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Oct, Nov
Additional Info:
Not showy, Edible,

Bark or Stem Colour:
Green
Organ Modifications:
Storage tap root
Propagation:
Seed
Maintenance:
Medium
Other:
Staking may be required for tall cultivars
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Rust (Disease resistant, Rabbit resistant, Drought tolerant)
Specific Pests:
Deer

Course(s):
  • HORT 1155
  • HORT 1193/1293
Location(s):
  • (GNH)  GreeNHouse
Location Map