Sunflower: varieties, location and care of the bushy plant perennial

The sunflower is an easy-care perennial that comes in many varieties and colors. Use our overview and other tips.

The sunflower (Helianthemum), one of the hardy plants, is an integral part of Bach flower therapy. And because the sunflower is one of the easy-care perennials, it can often be found in our gardens, although sometimes unrecognized. But the sunflower is also very suitable for the design of the grave. This guide will tell you which varieties and varieties of sunflower are available and how the sunflower is planted and cared for.

Sunflower varieties - wide selection

The common sunflower is still available with yellow-colored flowers, whereas new varieties are now also available in the garden center with red, pink, orange and white flowers. We would like to introduce you to a few of the most beautiful varieties of sunflower here:

Sunflower 'Golden Queen' (Helianthemum x cultorum 'Golden Queen')

Sunflower 'bronze carpet' (Helianthemum x cultorum 'bronze carpet')

Sunflower 'bullfinch' (Helianthemum x cultorum 'bullfinch')

Sunflower 'Snow Queen' Helianthemum x cultorum 'Snow Queen')

Other interesting varieties - overview

• Common sunflower - yellow flowers, very robust
• Mountain sunflower - also yellow flowers, very low growth
• Garden sunflowers - yellow flowers with orange coloring
• Sterntaler - golden yellow flower, is often confused with the common sunflower
• Cornish Cream - delicate, vanilla-yellow flower with an intense yellow center
• Cheviot - apricot-colored flower, looks very delicate
• Polar bear - pure white flower
• The Bride - white flower with yellow center, silver-green foliage, looks extremely elegant
• Red Orient - dark red, intense flower color, spices up colorless garden beds tremendously
• Cerise Queen - red, double flower, is often also offered under the name "Ruby"
• Lawrensons Pink - pink flower, looks very fine
• Wisley Pink - pink colored flower, silver-green foliage dress
• Raspberry Ripples - two-tone flower in pink and white, brings mood to the garden bed
• Ruth - whose brown-red flower forms a great contrast to her gray-green foliage

The perfect choice of location

The evergreen sunflowers prefer, as their name suggests, a sunny, dry (water-permeable) location, which is why they are also ideal for cultivation in the rock garden. Due to the stature height of 10 to a maximum of 30 centimeters, sunflowers are also suitable for grave design and as a border for beds.

In early spring (from around March) you should either grow sunflowers yourself using seeds, or buy them as perennials and plant them directly in the garden bed. You can also use the cuttings to multiply existing sunflowers.

" Tip: Before you plant the perennials in the soil, you should enrich the soil with some compost to help them grow.

Caring for sunflower properly

➤ Promote flowering

The sunflower blooming from May to August hardly needs any maintenance. You should only cut off wilted flowers as early as possible so that a new bloom can quickly form on the sunflower.

➤ Water / fertilize

Sunflowers are also very insensitive during long dry periods. Nevertheless, you should supply the plant perennial with irrigation water. However, you must then make sure that no backwater forms around the plant. On the other hand, fertilizer is only necessary if necessary.

➤ Cut back

Immediately after the last flowering, you should cut back the sunflower vigorously so that the perennial plant becomes ever more compact and can even survive frosty winter days.