Arikara Sunflower

Germination rates were over 90% with this sunflower. I sprouted these in mid-march and planted into the garden in a raised flower bed in April. Our spring was warm, humid, and overcast with only 2-3 weeks of sun up until July. But that didn't stop these from flowering in June or growing like crazy to 12 feet! Plants fell over after a very wet two weeks that was finished off by some strong winds. I was too lazy to stake them and just decided to let them keep growing. They simply curved and grew back upwards with half of the trunk laying down. Multiple blooms over a long period. These grow one main huge flower with a bunch of smaller side flowers that flower over a long season. It's been 3 weeks and the blooms are still coming. Butterflies and bees LOVE them. I grew these for the wildlife and for visual pleasure, and they earned 5 stars. If you want to help the bees, plant this variety. The flowers are LOADED with pollen that bees eat for their protein.

We planted these gorgeous plants around the perimeter of our garden two seasons ago to attract bees and to draw birds up away from our other garden plants, it worked like a charm! Had lots of bumble bees and honey bees. The best part was last season we had about 20 volunteer plants sprout up (this was AFTER we plowed the garden at the end of first season I mentioned) we were able to transplant the new sprouts around the perimeter and they ALL took and produced almost as good as the first year! We will be planting more this season.

It's mid-August and they're just starting to flower now. These grew to at least 12 ft tall. They're also getting flower buds with smaller flowers all the way up the stem. Love these! I will be growing them again next year.

These sunflowers need cooler weather to germinate. I was instructed by the head gardener at Jeffersons Montecello to plant them in 45? soil in early Spring when you put out peas or onions. They don't germinate well in the summer?. Beautiful sunflower. This was a Lewis and Clark find and has grown in n Thomas Jeffersons garden since.

Love how these easy to grow sunflowers attract hummingbirds, Monarchs, bumble bees and other pollinators. Bought seeds three seasons ago and have successfully planted the saved seed for the last two seasons. Plants reach about 10 feet tall and stand tall except if subjected to high wind and heavy rain.