The reason is that it produces fantastic flowers that are of a riveting coppery red hue with a distinctly velvety sheen. 14) H. annuus‘Ruby Sunset’

Sunflowers produce their floral reward very promptly after planting and in profusion, but they also have other pleasing characteristics.

The plant was first domesticated in the Americas. Sunflower seeds were brought to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, where, along with sunflower oil, they became a widespread cooking ingredient. With time, the bulk of industrial-scale production has shifted to Eastern Europe, and (as of 2020 [update]) Russia and Ukraine together produce over half of worldwide seed production. When you’re growing a sunflower strictly for ornamental purposes, it’s okay if it gets a little dehydrated – as long as it blooms. For example, as the flowers are a source of nectar, they will draw butterflies and bees to your garden in abundance. Annual sunflowers are usually grown from seed, sown indoors in spring (see Propagating, below). Keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouseuntil late spring or early summer, then plant outside once the soil is warming up and there is no risk of frost. Harden themoff thoroughly first, to acclimatise them to outdoor conditions.

Some species, such as Helianthus pauciflorusand H. salicifolius, prefer dry soil, while H.× laetiflorus and H. multiflorus thrive in moist or damp soiland like growing near water It has very bright sunny yellow rays centred by an amber disc so that the entire flower is rather lighter in shade than those of most varieties. 6) H. annuus‘Little Leo’

The rays are a light bright yellow and, at another point of departure, the light brown discs are quite small and not as prominent as in most other varieties’ flowers. It produces a gorgeous flower, is prolific and floriferous, and it blooms all summer and autumn long! These flowers are truly made for titans, having a mind-boggling width of nearly 50cm. 8) H. annuus‘Giraffe’ In the binomial name Helianthus annuus the genus name is derived from the Greek ἥλιος: hḗlios 'sun' and ἄνθος: ánthos 'flower'. The species name annuus means 'annual' in Latin. It is of a branching type and shows off its incredible, one-of-a-kind flowers nearly all summer long. 17) H. annuus‘Sunbelievable Brown-Eyed Girl’

There are two kinds of sunflowers grown commercially: oilseed sunflowers and confection sunflowers. The plant flowers in summer. What is often called the " flower" of the sunflower is actually a "flower head" ( pseudanthium), 7.5–12.5 centimetres (3–5in) wide, [4] of numerous small individual five-petaled flowers (" florets"). The outer flowers, which resemble petals, are called ray flowers. Each "petal" consists of a ligule composed of fused petals of an asymmetrical ray flower. They are sexually sterile and may be yellow, red, orange, or other colors. The spirally arranged flowers in the center of the head are called disk flowers. These mature into fruit (sunflower "seeds"). Most of all though, it’s the very large flowers, their uncomplicated daisy-like form, the brilliant yellow colour, and their height that make sunflowers so attractive.Rising to just over 1m and with flowers measuring 15-17cm in diameter, ‘Valentine’ produces amongst the lightest-coloured sunflowers – or the darkest, depending on your point of view.

But with a variety like this, when you want the plants to stay healthy throughout the blooming period and on into seed production, it’s important to keep them watered. At 4m high, ‘Kong’ is not quite as tall as the fabled giant gorilla, but it is very much a giant among its kith and kin.Of an intermediate height of 1.8m, what distinguishes ‘Copper Queen’ from the others on this list is the colour of its rays – they are out-and-out orange.