Branching, pollenless sunflowers that bloom for months instead of once: SunBelievable ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, and ‘Sunfinity’ and ‘Sol Seeker Golden Nectar’. Full sun, a big container, and steady water.
The old sunflower gives you one head and then a stalk. These are different: multi-branching hybrids bred for pots that open dozens of four-inch flowers over three or four months, pollenless so they don’t drop yellow dust on the patio, and short enough — three to four feet — to stand in a large container without staking. In the low desert they have two seasons, spring and fall, and their one demand is water: a sunflower in a pot in May drinks a gallon a day.
We commonly carry SunBelievable ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, and ‘Sunfinity Yellow Dark Center’, ‘Sunfinity Bicolor Yellow-Red’ and ‘Sol Seeker Golden Nectar’. The rest of the color tables are on our Annual Flowers & Foliage page.
These are the container sunflowers varieties we commonly carry. Availability changes week to week and season to season, so call (480) 987-3308 or stop in to see what’s on the bench today.
A compact branching sunflower with golden petals and a green-to-brown center, bred for pollinators — a nectar source rather than a pollenless type.
‘Sunfinity’ with red-flushed petals fading to yellow tips.
The ‘Sunfinity’ series: three to four feet, branching from the base, with classic yellow, dark-eyed flowers opening continuously for months.
A compact branching sunflower to three feet that can produce a thousand golden, brown-centerd flowers over a season. Pollenless and sterile, so it never stops to set seed.
Looking for one that isn’t listed? Ask — we can usually suggest a close match or tell you when it tends to come around.
The care tag was written somewhere else. This is the Queen Creek version.
Set out from mid-February through April, after frost, for bloom from April into the heat of July; and again in September for bloom until the first frost. Plants set out in May and June struggle to establish in the heat. Sunflowers are killed by frost.
Move it into a container at least 16–18 inches across and deep, filled with a quality potting mix; a small pot dries out by noon and the plant wilts and drops buds. In the ground, a bed amended with compost. Drainage holes are essential.
A balanced fertilizer at half strength every two weeks — branching sunflowers are heavy feeders. Cut spent heads back to a side branch and new buds form within days; leaving old heads slows the plant.
Full sun, all day, in both seasons — they lean and flop in shade. In late spring, a spot with afternoon shade off a wall helps the pot survive June, but the plant flowers best in the sun.
Daily in pots from April, twice on hot windy days; every two days in beds. A wilted sunflower recovers but loses the buds that were forming. Mulch the pot surface. Drip on a timer is the safest approach for containers.
Aphids on buds, leaf-footed bugs on developing heads and occasional caterpillars — hose, hand-pick, Bt. Birds may peck at ‘Sol Seeker’ heads; that is the point of it. Sunflowers are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Snap a photo of the spot — sun direction, wall color, pot size — and we’ll pick a season-correct combination with you. Advice is free.
Annuals succeed or fail on what’s under them. We stock planting mix and compost for beds, potting mix for containers, bloom fertilizers including Tony’s Magic Mix and Magic Flower, starter fertilizer, drip fittings and frost cloth for the cold nights. The pottery yard has glazed and terracotta pots from 4-inch to whiskey-barrel size, window boxes and hanging baskets, and soil and mulch is sold by the bag or by the yard.
These are branching, pollenless hybrids that open dozens of flowers over months instead of one head once, and they stay three to four feet tall for containers. ‘Sol Seeker’ is the exception — it produces pollen for the bees.
Mid-February through April, and again in September. Not in the heat of May and June.
Daily from April, twice on hot windy days. A big container — 16 inches or more — makes this manageable.
Usually not; they are bred compact. In a windy spot a single stake through the center of the pot helps.
Cut spent heads back to a side branch and feed every two weeks. New buds follow within days.
Yes, they are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Container Sunflowers live on the annuals tables; any staff member can point you to them. Locally owned, and a short drive from San Tan Valley, Gilbert, Chandler and Mesa.