Description
Red Sun Sunflower
Red Sun Sunflower has 5 – 6″ blooms with deep, dark orange-red petals with a bit of yellow towards the center on branching stems, 5′ – 6′ tall. This long blooming cultivar is great for cut flower arrangements and back borders. Thin the seedlings to 10 – 12″ apart. They 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 on flower heads on the plant for the birds. Even if its 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: Deep red-orange
Height: 5 – 6′
Type: Annual
Climate: Sun-Dry
Seeds/lb.:
Zone: 4-9
Bloom time: Mid to late summer
