I like to try new cultivars every year, but my favourite that I have to sow every year is 'Ring of Fire'.

AAS Flower Award Winner
'Ring of Fire' is a five-inch sunflower having golden petal edges and a ring of red surrounding the chocolate brown center. Decidedly different from other sunflowers, 'Ring of Fire' stands out in a crowd of plain gold or yellow flowers. Later to bloom, 'Ring of Fire' may require 120 days to show bicolor blooms, but this late season display is often what the garden needs for a fresh new look. Needing a full sun garden, 'Ring of Fire' plants may reach 4 to 5 feet tall, spreading 2 to 3 feet. The long flower stems are perfect for cut flowers. If not cut, flowers may produce seed for wildlife, another benefit to growing "Ring of Fire'.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Ring of Fire' Sunflower

I like this one:
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I thought my seeds were not germinating so I dumped the paper pots on the flower bed. This one grew and grew. I don't know its name since I dumped several paper pots there. The stems are very long and strong. The flowers are golden yellow, 5"-6" diameter. Could be 'Procut' or 'Ebony Gold'.

How about one that's only 4' tall with medium sized flowers and somewhat long rays? I want to grow some for cutting this year and could use some suggestions.

Also, is it worth starting seeds indoors, or will these grow so fast from outdoor sowing that I won't need to do that?

Italian White! Sorry I don't have a picture to show you.

Greetings --

Actually, I was thinking Italian White before I saw tangerine_z6's post -- and I agree you should try it.

It's about 4' tall and is branching -- and it has a creamy color that's quite different from many sunflowers (it's actually a different species).

I've got Italian White seeds to trade -- or I could do a SASE for you. Let me know if you want some!

LianeNY

Here is a link that might be useful: Italian White Sunflower at Territorial Seeds

Thanks for your photos, pitimpinai..very nice. Wow how tall they got! I would love to look at sunflower faces out my second story window! :-)

I like the idea of the Italian White..are the flowerheads small? The photo is very pretty. Of course, white goes with everything. Do they branch and keep reblooming for cutting?

My fav sunflower so far would have to be the Moulin Rouge!! They grew between 4-5' and held multiple flowers per plant at a time. The stems are a nice maroon/burgundy color.
They started around June 25th and repeatedly bloomed thru the first frost. By late summer early fall they were full of blooms. The blooms which occured in the axils were about 2" while the terminal flowers were 4 to 5".
Here's a few pics from June 29th July 3 and 10th:
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With Larkspur 'Earl Grey'
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Vera

Hi Vera..

Thanks for posting those photos. Your Moulin Rouge are gorgeous! How do you keep the squirrels away? I have always liked the photo of Moulin Rouge in the seed catalog but you always wonder how they look in someone's actual yard. You did a good job with them. I didn't know they actually rebloomed until the frost and 6-25th was early for them to start.

Guess that one is going on my list, thanks so much!

:-)

U are welcome :D
They are multi-blooming plants and buds keep producing thru the season. Before long there was at least 15 blooms at a time. The best part is that these are pollenless and won't drop pollen all over in arrangments! I have seed left if you want some.
Email me at la_raspberry@yahoo.com with your address and I will send them out.

Vera

'Starburst Lemon Aura'. Double crested on 5ft stalks. What more could you ask for.

Here is a link that might be useful: garden links

I love Taiyo. I grow it every year. It's a Japanese heirloom that you can get from SSE's catalog. Check out the selection (including 'Taiyo').

Here is a link that might be useful: Seed Savers Exchange

Just came across this thread again.
Prairie, would you like any Sunflower seeds. I got a bunch from my own plants, trades, & commercial packs.

I am going to try 'Baby Bear' for the first time. A very generous GW trader gave me a WHOLE packet. Woooo hooo!

Thanks jane...I have purchased seed from Seed Savers before..I do enjoy the heirlooms and hte Taiyo looks big! Such a large dark center, must make a ton of seed. [g] Thanks

pitimpinai...Gee, there are a lot of those generous traders floating around GW ;-). I would love to try your baby bear seeds and will email you to see if I can offer you something in exchange. thanks very much. I have a few seed already but not a double. :-)

We've been planting for over 6 years for our market. Our favorites so far have been the Sunrich series. They come in various hues of yellow and orange. They grow pretty tall, but are excellent for cut flowers (which is what we grow them for). They are branchless which helps in the way of stronger stalks for cuttings. We tried Sunbright Supreme (yellow/orange) last season, they turned out very well, very early. Only one problem, they bloomed all at once - we can't harvest them that fast, but might be good for you.

Berbadette 5,

I am interested in trying the Sunrich Series Sunflowers. Where can I purchase the seeds?

Betty

Probably my favorite of recent years has been FLORENZA ... a semi compact plant with many blooms, a winner!

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This is a mix I had received from Thompson and Morgan. The blooms were rather small (likely due to the very dry summer) but, talk about cute!

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I also must mention Magic Roundabout as being excellent!

Terry

Ciao Terry-

Those are fantastic, I love sunflowers crowded like that, it's like a little bit of Tuscany. My favourites tend towards dark and very pale, away from the traditional yellow:

Italian White
Velvet Queen
Moonshadow
Moulin Rouge
Vanilla Ice
Chocolate Cherry
Cinnamon Sun

I grow them in a compact space like yours are so they can support each other during our summer thunderstorms. I like branching 5' varieties for table displays and it matters not whether they put out pollen, I simply put a tray under the vase if they do.