Companion plants: Sunflowers combine well with other flowering perennials, reseeding annuals and meadow plants. Consider Salvia spp., Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Sedum 'Autumn Joy,' and ornamental grasses like Mexican feather grass (Nasella tenuissima), Maiden grass (Miscanthus sinensis) and Inland sea oats (Chasmanthium latifolium). Be sure to check with your local experts at trusted garden centers or extension offices on recommended annuals and perennials for your area, as some plants may be considered invasive in particular parts of the country.