10 Beautiful Sunflower Varieties

Sunflower varieties are endless, and they are a favorite for many backyard gardeners.  Each year I look forward to starting my sunflowers from seed.  Browsing  catalogues and websites in search of the perfect variety to grow each  summer is a favorite past time for me.  Once I decide on a variety, I plant the sunflower seeds in my bottle greenhouses during the winter.  When the seedlings emerge in the spring, I transfer them into the garden.  Today I’m going to give you gardening tips on my favorite sunflower varieties.  

I have become fond of a few varieties of sunflowers, but searching for new ones can be fun.  There are a few sunflower varieties that always find a place in my garden every summer.

Here’s a list of my favorite sunflower varieties:

• Lemon Queen – A must have in my garden.  The Lemon Queen sunflower has pale yellow petals.  I live in Zone 6B.  My Lemon Queens usually get about 4 – 5 feet tall. My Gold Finch love them.  They usually produce 1 – 2 heads per stem.
• Autumn Beauty Mix – The Autumn Beauty sunflower is an excellent flower for cutting. They can have several heads open on one stem at once, and they make beautiful bouquets. They normally grow around 5 – 6 feet.  The flowers are produced in a variety of colors. Usually in orange, red and yellow.
• Butter Cream – The flowers on the Butter Cream sunflower are a pale yellow with brown centers. I add these to the Autumn Beauty and Evening Sun Mix bouquets. They look beautiful among the dark flowers in the mix.  They normally grow 4 – 5 feet.
• Teddy Bear – Children love Teddy Bears and these Teddy Bear sunflowers are no exception. They are a dwarf variety and perfect for containers and/or borders.  Additionally, they look great on patios, front porches and decks too.
• Evening Sun – The Evening Sun sunflower mixture produces flowers of red, yellow and burgundy, which grow to 6 – 7 feet. I add the Butter Cream variety into the mix for bouquets.
• Mammoth Russian –  Mammoth Russian sunflower can grow 8 – 12 feet tall with huge sunflowers.  I’ve had some flowers that have grown to the size of a dinner plate. I roast the seeds from the Mammoth Russian and snack on them through the winter.  My backyard birds love them too.
• Moulin Rouge – The Moulin Rouge sunflower is an absolute beauty.  It is deep, rich, burgundy and is beautiful with the Butter Cream variety in boutiques.  It grows from 5 – 8 feet.
• Super Snack Mix – Grow your own Super Snack Mix sunflowers.  The seeds are large and great for snacking. The plants grow about 4 – 5 feet and attract butterflies.
• Mexican  – Additionally, this is one of my favorite flowers for attracting butterflies and humming birds.  Mexican sunflowers make great cut flowers too.
• Dwarf  – The Fire Cracker and Sunny Smile sunflowers are perfect for containers.  They are dwarf varieties, and are great for container or borders.  They provide a nice contrast to the Teddy Bear.

Finally, there are other varieties that are worth checking out.  These are just a few of my favorites.  Before you plant, decide if you want to use them for seed snacks, wild bird feed, give the heads to the squirrels or in bouquets.  Do your homework and purchase your plants or seeds accordingly.  Additionally, sunflowers can be found in a variety of colors other than the typical yellow.  There’s burgundy, orange, crème, and more. Start your search for next season’s garden and have fun.

Also, you may also like Sunflower and Finches in the Garden.