I’ve had sunflowers in every garden I’ve ever grown. While I loved their bright sunny faces, there were a few things I didn’t like. I didn’t like those that were 9 feet tall and produced one huge flower that was great for seeds but fell over in every vase I tried. Then there were those that fit in a vase, looked good in a vase, but shed pollen all over the place. Can’t say I was too crazy about those either. Why, I kept thinking, couldn’t someone breed a sunflower that was perfect for cutting. The right size flower (about 6 inches across), on the right size plant (about 3-4 feet tall) produced abundant blossoms and didn’t shed pollen all over the place in a vase. Every year I bought whatever I could find to try, but this year I came up with a WINNER!
In March I ordered a packet of “Solar Flash” sunflowers from Burpee Seeds. I started them in small pots under grow lights to get a jump on the season and transplanted two of them at the sides of my 2 foot by 5 foot raised bed. Sunflower bouquets are gorgeous in a vase:
Gorgeous in the garden:
And gorgeous up close and personal!
My plants are about 36″ to 40″ tall. They each have 20 blossoms and more buds to come. The cut flowers are lasting at least five day in the vase and they don’t shed pollen! I LOVE these sunflower bouquets. Now, I know there are other dwarf sunflowers and some are probably just as good but these have won me over! So, if you’re looking for a sunflower you can love in the garden and indoors in a vase you might want to give Solar Flash a try!
Do you have a favorite…large or small….please share!
Donna Jones has always loved to garden. After completing the Master Gardener program, spending some time hosting a garden program on television and writing a garden column, she took time off to be a mom and a school teacher. Now, just beginning the journey as a grandmother, Donna is repairing the garden for little hands again! Raised beds full of flowers and veggies are ready and plans for a few chickens are well under way. To learn more about Donna visit Radish Patch Blog, or you can also check out her professional photography site at Donna Jones Photography.
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