Sunflower Tournesol, Girasol, Sonnenblume, Slonecznik, Blodyn haul, Zonnebloem, Duwwar al shams, suncokret

Helianthus annuus

Sunflower belongs to the Helianthus genus. Sunflower is also known as Tournesol, Girasol, Sonnenblume, Slonecznik, Blodyn haul, Zonnebloem, Duwwar al shams, suncokret

312 plantings
41 for swap
13 wanted
272 stashed
92 to buy

81% complete! (81%)

The Sunflower Plant Wiki

All details in our wiki have been kindly provided by our members.

Very easy to grow, great for children’s gardens and borders. Can grow to great heights (the tallest ever recorded was over 8 metres!) – however both tall and dwarf varieties are available. Great for attracting bees and birds.

Sunflower belongs to the Helianthus genus.

How to grow and keep Sunflower happy

Protect your sunflowers from moths and birds by covering the heads with plastic netting.

USDA Zone Range Which zones does Sunflower grow best in? 4 - 9 pH Range The level of acidity for Sunflower. 5.7 - 8.1
Water Requirements How much water does Sunflower require? High Nitrogen Requirements How much nitrogen fertilizer does Sunflower need? High
Soil The type of soil that Sunflower needs. ? Sun How much sunlight does Sunflower need to grow? Full Sun
Min. Air Temperature The lowest air temp to grow Sunflower in. ? Max. Air Temperature The highest air temp to grow Sunflower in. ?

How to sow and germinate Sunflower

Sow one seed per pot using a 10cm / 4 inch size plant pot and place in an airing cupboard for a couple of days until the seedling pushes through.

How to transplant Sunflower

Plant outside as soon as possible.

How to harvest Sunflower

Companion plants for Sunflower

These plants will grow well with Sunflower:

Repellent plants for Sunflower

These plants will not grow well with Sunflower so avoid planting these within close proximity:

Common Sunflower pests

These pests are known to attack Sunflower plants:

Common Sunflower diseases & problems

These problems and diseases are known to effect Sunflower plants:

How long does Sunflower take to grow?

These estimates for how long Sunflower takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!

When should I sow or plant Sunflower?

These estimates are relative to your last frost date. Enter your frost dates and we'll calculate your sowing and planting dates for you!

Sunflower Etymology

The sunflower gets its name from the Greek word “Helios” (meaning sun) and “anthos” (meaning flower) The botanical epithet is from the Latin annuus meaning “annual”
The botanical epithet is from the Latin helianthus meaning “sun-flower”

Sunflower Folklore

Used medicinally throughout the ages for wart removal, snake bite and sunstroke treatment.
The Aztecs worshipped sunflowers – they placed sunflower images made of gold in their temples.
Is associated with the zodiac sign Leo (23 July to 22 August) because of their mutual relationship with the Sun.
The Navajo made a tea with the leaves as a treatment for feverish pregnant women.
Sunflower oil was also utilised as a skin wash.