Sorry about your bb, but that sunflower is amazing! Save the seeds on that one! Sorry I have no clue what it could be.

It's interesting that you asked about a sunflower. I have several sunflower plants showing up that I've never seen before. They are short-about 2' high with multiple heads, soft fuzzy leaves. I thought they were Blanketflower Plants, but no. I have them in my flower beds and I've seen them sprout in places in town where they weren't planted. As I look for my sunflower name I'll keep an eye out for yours, too. Yours is beautiful--love it!

Heidi

Starburst Lemon Aura(F1) Sunflower Seed

1729

Product ID: 1729

Gorgeous, pale yellow, branching double.

Lovely, fully-double blooms on long, sturdy stems cover this compact plant. The light yellow shade lends itself well to pastel bouquets making it a great addition to an existing sunflower line. Also known as common sunflower and annual sunflower. Pollenless. Ht. 48-60". Avg. 1,050 seeds/oz. Packet: 50 seeds.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-6291-starburst-lemon-aura.aspx

This one is a pale yellow while yours is dark, but it looks like they could be related.

twice today, while weeding, I have come across a clump of sprouting seeds. Thick green cotyledons are just popping thru the dirt eager and ready to find sun and fresh air. Sunflowers!!! Like a golf ball sized clump of them!! I think Mr. Chipmunk has been planting a mouthful of seeds here and there, or maybe he's stashing them. Or do squirrels do that? I've pulled at least 5 black walnut seedlings too (black walnut still attached!). I have watched the squirrels bury walnuts in my yard...characters!

xiangirl, I have responded on your thread in Annuals. Your 'sunflowers' are Rudbeckias, I believe.

Also the OP's sunflower can't be the cultivar you name because that is a lemon coloured, double F1 hybrid. It would not be included in birdseed. It is only related to the OP's plant in so far as it is a Sunflower.

Love, love love it!! The leaves sure look like a sunflower, not a rubeckia, imho. Either way, I want it!! Nancy.

Ahhhh. Gotcha.

So jealous! I planted a new little sunflower patch with 3 different kinds and only one started to pop up then disappeared. I think the critters got them. Enjoy!

Lilyfinch, when you decide that the sunflower has to go, you can just cut it off at the base - no need to pull it and disturb the BB roots. It's an annual and so won't come back. You can also remove a few of the sunflower's lower leaves to reduce the shade for the BB this season.

As others have suggested, I would save seed to plant in a more appropriate spot next year.

I got some like that a few years ago from my birdseed as well,loved it and so did the monarchs.

Thanks for all the responses ! It has fizzled and its time to cut it ( great idea nhbabs!! ) but I want to let the birds get some seed from it .

Do y'all believe I planted a huge row of seeds I bought online in front of my house ! Maybe a hundred sunflowers sprouted and were oh so perfectly spaced and growing so well . Then one night , a tour bus full of deer must have dropped by , and they ate all but maybe 10! Unbelievable ! I had no idea they attracted deer :(