Types of sunflowers: the 50 most beautiful varieties (overview)

Sunflowers also have a lot to offer in terms of growth habit, flower colour and shape. We present the most beautiful types of sunflowers.

Sunflowers (Helianthus) put every observer in a summery good mood when their bright blossoms appear in the warm season. Apart from their omnipresent love of the sun, the different types of sunflowers are characterised by a wide variety of flower colours and sizes as well as growth forms. Whether imposing varieties for planting in flower beds or small-growing varieties for pot culture, whether perennials or annuals – sunflowers offer an often underestimated diversity. Here we present the most beautiful types of sunflowers for pots and beds.

Types of sunflowers: discover diversity

The sunflower genus (Helianthus) includes 67 species. In Europe, the common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) are the main cultivated plants. The plants of this genus form flower baskets, which stand together singly or in groups. Growth height can range from 20 centimetres to over five metres, depending on the species, with small-statured varieties like ‘Sunspot’ being excellent as potted sunflowers.

However, true giants can be grown in flower beds. However, species such as H. annuus must be reseeded each year. Perennial sunflowers offer a good alternative. Species such as Helianthus decapetalus survive the cold season even without winter protection, and display their sunny flowers the following year.

Sunflower varieties: popular and beautiful varieties

Sunflowers are both popular ornamental and important crop plants. Accordingly, the breeding interest and the resulting variety diversity is great. Looking at the flowering characteristics, a general distinction can be made between varieties with high nectar production, which are particularly suitable for bee pastures, extra early or extra late flowering varieties, and varieties with a low or high oil content and high grain yield. There are also pollen-free varieties. These are especially good for vase cuttings because the flowers do not leave sticky yellow pollen trails in the house. In addition, the flower colours range from the typical bright yellow to orange, red, brown and bronze tones. There are varieties with double or semi-double flowers in addition to simple basket flowers. More on the topic of sunflowers in vases can be found in our special article.

Types of sunflowers for the bed

The species Helianthus annus offers the largest selection of varieties for planting in beds. Annual plants are sown in the bed every year. In winter, the plants, which grow up to three metres high, die. The yellow to reddish-brown flowers stretch toward the sun from July to September. We present 25 particularly beautiful and insect-friendly varieties of H. annuus:

• Tiffany: orange-yellow flowers with a dark centre; growth height up to 190 cm.
• Inara Orange: orange flowers with reddish-brown centre; growth height up to 160 cm; pollen-free.
• Sunrich Gold: orange-yellow flowers with a golden-yellow centre; growth height up to 200 cm; pollen-free.
• Sunrich Orange: orange petals with a dark centre; growth height up to 170 cm; pollen-free.

• Orange Sun: double, orange-yellow flowers from August to October; growth height up to 150 cm.
• Yellow discus: yellow petals; growth height up to 180 cm.
• King Kong: sunny yellow petals; forms conspicuously large flowers and leaves; growth height up to 500 cm.
• Prado Gold: bright, golden yellow flowers with a dark brown centre; growth height up to 200 cm; very early blooming.
• Sonja: large, golden yellow flowers with a dark centre; growth height up to 100 cm.
• Mezzulah: sunny yellow flowers with an almost black centre; growth height 120 cm; suitable for windy sites.
• American Giant: bright yellow flowers; growth height up to 400 cm.
• Titanium: yellow flowers measuring up to 60 cm; growth height up to 360 cm.
• Golden Hedge: bright, yellow petals; pollen-free; especially suitable for late sowing (by mid-July).
• Snack: yellow petals; growth height of up to 200 cm; this variety was specially bred for harvesting sunflower seeds; the seeds have a high vitamin content and spicy taste.
• Atlanta: golden yellow petals with a dark centre; growth height of up to 250 cm; insect friendly.
• Prado Red: dark red flowers with a black centre; growth height of up to 160 cm.
• Terracotta: bicoloured flowers in orange and yellow with a dark centre; growth height of up to 180 cm.

• Velvet Queen: deep red petals with a black centre; 15 cm flowers; growth height circa 150 cm.
• Evening Sun: brown-red flowers with a dark, brown-red centre; growth height up to 200 cm.
• Ring of Fire: bicoloured flowers in yellow and red with a dark centre; growth height up to 120 cm.
• La Torre: bicoloured flowers of yellow and orange-red with a reddish-brown centre; growth height up to 200 cm; insect friendly.
• Cherry Rose: flowers with colour gradient from light yellow to Bordeaux red; growth height up to 150 cm; pollen-free.
• Earthwalker: terracotta-coloured petals fading to golden yellow; growth height up to 300 cm.
• Pro Cut Bicolour: bicolour petals in bronze and golden yellow; growth height up to 200 cm; pollen-free.
• Floristan: red-white flowers; growth height up to 120 cm.

However, there are not only annual varieties. If you want to save yourself the annual sowing, you can resort to perennial sunflowers. Most varieties of these species are even hardy. However, with these the seeds are not edible, the flowers are smaller and the plants usually only reach a maximum height of two metres, depending on the variety.

Persistent sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus): flowers from July to October; growth height up to 200 cm; hardy down to -29 °C.

• Capenoch Star: light yellow flowers with yellow centre from August to September; growth height up to 180 cm.
• Loddon Gold: double, sunny yellow flowers from July to November; growth height up to 140 cm.
• Meteor: golden yellow, semi-double flowers with a yellow centre from August to October; growth height up to 180 cm.
• Soleil d’Or: double, bright yellow flowers with a golden yellow centre from August to October; growth height up to 160 cm.
• Triomphe de Gand: lemon yellow flowers with yellow centre from August to October; growth height up to 150 cm.

Small-flowered sunflower (Helianthus microcephalus): deep yellow flowers from August to September; branched growth up to 180 cm; forms clumps; hardy down to -17 °C.

• Anne: bright yellow flowers from August to October; growth height up to 110 cm; especially suitable for bee pastures.
• Carine: bright, lemon yellow flowers; reddish stems.
• Lemon Queen: lemon yellow petals with a brownish yellow centre from August to September; growth height up to 250 cm.
• Straffe Prairie Guest: sunny yellow flowers from August to October; growth height up to 150 cm.

Giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus): yellow flowers from August to October; growth height up to 400 cm; hardy down to -35 °C.

• Sheila McQueen: sulphur yellow flowers from September to October; growth height up to 250 cm.
• Sheila’s Sunshine: bright, creamy yellow flowers with a dark yellow centre from September to November; growth height up to 300 cm.

Willow-leaved sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius): yellow flowers from September to October; very narrow and long foliage; perennial; growth height up to 250 cm; fast-growing; hardy down to -35 °C.

Dark-eye sunflower (Helianthus atrorubens): yellow flowers with a brown centre in panicles from August to September; the species is suitable for bee meadows; growth height up to 200 cm; hardy.

• Giganteus: very long, bright yellow petals with dark brown centre from August to October; growth height up to 200 cm.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus): flowers with yellow petals and a brown centre from September to November; growth height up to 250 cm; hardy down to -30 °C; tubers are edible.

Sunflower varieties for pots

Although sunflowers are usually thought of as true giants among flowering plants, 67 species also include a few small varieties. These are excellent for pot or container culture because they rarely reach heights of more than one metre. To give you an overview of the diversity among the dwarfs of the sun worshippers, we present 16 small-sized varieties for sunflowers in pots:

• Pacino: bright yellow flowers from March to June; growth height up to 30 cm (80 cm outdoors); abundant and long flowering.
• Sun Gold: yellow flowers with a green centre from March to July; growth height up to 60 cm; pollen-free.
• Big Smile: sunny yellow flowers with a dark centre from May to October; growth height to 30 cm.
• Sunny Smile: bright yellow flowers with dark brown centre; growth height up to 40 cm; pollen-free.
• Sunspot: golden yellow flowers with green centre; growth height up to 40 cm.
• Suntastic: bright yellow petals with a dark centre; growth height up to 50 cm; produces up to 20 flowers per plant.

• Yellow peck: double, yellow flowers from July to October; growth height up to 50 cm; low in pollen.
• Garden Statement: lemon yellow flowers with a dark centre from July to September; growth height to 80 cm.
• Ballad: sunny yellow flowers with a large, dark centre; growth height up to 40 cm; pollen-free.
• Little Leo: bright yellow flowers with a dark centre from July to September; growth height to 45 cm.
• Miss Mars: red petals with a white tip and black centre from June to October; growth height up to 60 cm.
• Double Dandy: semi-double, red flowers from June to October; height of growth up to 60 cm.

• Teddy Bear: double, orange-yellow flower from April to June; growth height up to 40 cm (in the open 70 cm).
• Bert: bright orange-yellow flowers with a dark centre; growth height up to 45 cm; pollen-free.
• Baby Bear: orange flowers; growth height up to 60 cm; pollen-free.
• Music Box: many small flowers in light yellow, golden yellow and brown from July to September; growth height up to 60 cm.

Tip: Especially in pots, the nutrients are quickly depleted and sunflowers should be fertilised regularly. Our Plantura Liquid Flower Food is a liquid fertiliser that is easy to apply through the irrigation water. This is simply administered every one to two weeks via the irrigation water and ensures strengthened sunflowers with magnificent flowers.

Liquid Flower Food, 800ml

(5/5)

• Perfect for all flowers & balcony plants
• Liquid fertiliser for a lush blossom throughout the season
• Quick & easy application - child & pet friendly

£10.99

Shop now!

The mentioned varieties all belong to the species H. annuus and are thus annuals. If you want to enjoy your potted sunflowers for several years, go for small-seeded perennial sunflowers like H. decapetalus ‘Happy Days’. This variety produces semi-double golden yellow flowers from June to September and reaches heights of about 60 centimetres.

Dwarf sunflowers (Helianthus debilis ssp. cucumerifolius)

Dwarf sunflower species provide an alternative to small-sized varieties of H. annuus. These grow a little taller than the above varieties at about 120 centimetres but are easily suitable for cultivation in large pots or containers. The species is also an annual and produces yellow flowers with dark centres from August to September. It is highly recommended for creating a bee pasture, is particularly drought tolerant and grows well in nutrient poor soils.

• Vanilla Ice: small, creamy white flowers; growth height up to 120 cm; long blooming season.
• Italian White: multi-flowered creamy white with dark blue eye; growth height up to 120 cm.
• Piccolo: medium, yellow flowers with dark brown centre; growth height up to 100 cm.
• Sunny Babe: small, yellow flowers with black centre; growth height up to 120 cm.
• Stella: golden yellow flowers; growth height up to 140 cm.

Have you already chosen one of these beautiful sunflower varieties? Then it is worth checking out our article on planting sunflowers.