There are various sunflower varieties to choose from, including the tall giant forms, which can reach up to 1.5-2 m tall and typically take up to 12 weeks to bloom. Due to their height and large heads, they can become quite top heavy (especially once the flower heads are full of seeds), so they will need protection from strong winds and rain and may require staking to prevent them from toppling over. If you don’t have the space, consider growing dwarf or smaller varieties. They grow between 30-50 cm tall and only take 8-10 weeks to flower. Both compact and tall growing varieties are available in the classic golden yellow hues, but they’re also available in orange, bronze, russet reds and bi-colour combos.
Sunflowers are easy to grow from seeds or seedlings. Read on to find out how you can grow sunflowers in the garden or in pots.