Description
Indian Blanket Sunflower
Attractive 4-5″ flowers with fluffy double petals that are deep red in the center and yellow at the tips form on multiple branching stems, 4 – 5′ tall. Indian Blanket Sunflower is another cultivar of the true North American native that is such a familiar sight. Great for decorating and cut flower arrangements. Thin seedlings to 1′ apart. Will do better if planted with composted manure and slow release fertilizer.
Keep them deadheaded until the end of the season. If you deadhead your sunflowers, they will keep pumping out new blossoms in their will to create seeds and more sunflowers. Don’t cut the stalk way back, the next sunflower often forms just inches from the place you deadheaded.
Leave the very last batch of spent flowers for the birds and for next year’s flowers. When it seems like the sunflowers are slowing down, leave the last set of flower heads on the plant for the birds. Even if it is a little ugly going into Fall, birds like the seed heads right on the plant. Little finches especially like to sit on top of the old brown seed head and bend over and pluck seeds out.
Color: Mahogany-red with yellow
Height: 5-7 feet
Type: Annual
Climate: Sun-Dry
Seeds/lb.: 27,000, Approx. 120 seeds/3 gm pkt
Zone: 3-10
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
