Sunflowers

Each plant carries an amazing variety of gold and pale yellow flowers with dusty rose to pink rings. High Mowing Organic Seeds - An unusual genetic mix with few solid colors and chocolatey brown centers. Well-branched; stems average 18" long with single heads. Great for bouquets and provides a long season of color Organic & Open-Pollinated Great cut flower Attracts bees and butterflies 8' tall Annual Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" =1" Deep Plant and Thin to 12" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - Produces huge quantities of brilliant yellow-orange flowers from June to September. Very easy to grow. Seeds are great for the birds! Excellent cut flower lasting up to 10 days. Grows 2-5' tall. Self-sows; does not spread by rhizomes. Hardy to zone 4.  Characteristics:  Self-seeding and hardy to zone 4 Plants grow to 2-5 feet tall Long-lasting yellow-orange flowers Blooms from June through September 150 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds indoors just under the surface of the soil in late winter or early spring. Also germinates readily when sewn into a weed-free seedbed in fall, spring, or early summer. Prefers a moderately rich loam, clay, or slightly damp sandy soil. Will tolerate very light shade.   Start Indoors: 8-10 weeks before planting out Germination: 10-15 Days Plant Outdoors: 12-24” Apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The giant of all sunflowers with tall, thick stalks supporting huge heads that tower over the garden. High Mowing Organic Seeds - This single-stemmed variety is a very fast and vigorous grower, perfect for creating living walls or fences, sunflower houses, kids' gardens and more. Also a great variety for edible seeds or feeding the birds. Towering plants are beloved by children, birds and bees. Organic & Open-Pollinated Food for birds and bees Fun for kids 12' tall Annual Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" - 1" Deep Plant and Thin to 12" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

A Hopi heirloom prized for its purple-black seeds, used especially for coloring baskets. High Mowing Organic Seeds - High Mowing sold this variety in our very first catalog, and we're bringing it back in part to complete the circle of our journey, and in part, because it's a great variety. Like us, it's scrappy and resilient and does a lot with a little, where the seeds are good for dye but also for food or feed, and are the best for de-hulling. The massive tall flowers are classically sunflower beautiful, with yellow rays around purple-black centers. Grown for countless generations, this variety will almost certainly still be used to make dye a hundred years from now. Approx. 500 seeds/oz. Characteristics:  Organic, non-GMO, and open-pollinated Heirloom  Natural dye source  7-11 feet tall  95 days  1/16 oz approx.  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" - 1" Deep Plant and Thin to 12" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (Tithonia rotundifolia) (aka Mexican Sunflower) Fiery orange 2-3" flowers attract lots of butterflies all summer long until frost. A favorite because of its extended bloom period. Nice for fresh arrangements. Branching plants grow 4-6' tall. Annual, 60 days.  Characteristics:  Annual flowers with multiple flower heads per plant Plants grow to 4-6 feet tall Flower heads grow to 3 inches across Bright orange flowers attract butterflies 60 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (H. annuus) Beautiful double 4-6" golden-yellow blooms are great for cut flowers. Makes an excellent border in front of larger sunflowers. A favorite with children. Dwarf plants grow only 18-24" tall. Annual, 75 days.  Characteristics:  Annual flowers Plants grow to 18-24 inches tall Golden yellow double blossoms are 4-6 inches across Great for cut flowers 75 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - A complete mixture of species and forms. If you can only plant one packet of sunflower seeds, this would be the one! The extended bloom period provides a nice supply of flowers for cutting from July until frost. For longer-lasting bouquets, be sure to pick heads that are just about to open. Plants average 4-6' tall. Annual, starts blooming at 60 days. ±1,100 seeds/oz  Characteristics:  Annual flowers Plants average 4-6 feet tall A mix of colors from yellow to orange to burgundy Great for cut flower arrangements Starts blooming at 60 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (H. annuus) A Japanese variety. Plants grow 5-6' tall with large 10-12" heads and short golden-yellow petals. Huge centers are covered with chocolate-colored velvet reminiscent of fur. Always a favorite. 70 days.  Characteristics:  Organic Annual flowers Flower heads grow 10-12 inches Flowers have short golden yellow petals and huge centers that feel like velvet Plants grow to 5-6 feet tall 70 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Renee's Garden - These award-winning short sunflowers are real powerhouses with an abundance of perky 4 to 5-inch flower faces to fill your beds and borders. The bushy plants bloom freely in lively sunny shades from rich clear yellow to deep gold and cream with pretty bicolors of bronze over gold, all with crisp petals and chocolate center disks. Music Box will delight you with long-blooming exuberant flowers in the garden or to use in bouquets.   Characteristics:  Butterfly & Hummingbird favorites  Pollinators & Beneficials  Great in containers  Annual  Summer/fall bloom  Frost tender    Instructions - To plant outdoors, plant in full sun in good garden soil when the weather is warm and settled both day and night and all danger of frost is past. Poke seeds into well-worked soil 1/2 inch deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist until germination in 8 to 10 days.  To start early indoors, several weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until ready to plant outside only when night temperatures have reached 50-55°F (10-13°C). Transplant carefully into the garden in full sun, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Space seedlings 12 inches apart so plants have ample room to grow. With its short 2 1/2 foot stature and abundant lively flowers, the multi-branching Music Box is an easy and reliable flower for cheerful summer color. Make several sowings 3 weeks apart to have a succession of flowers. Keep soil moist and well-weeded and protect seedlings from birds with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing when crowded. Plant in: May-June for cold winters; April-July for mild winters  Full sun  Sow seeds 4-5" apart; 1/2" deep Days to germinate: 8-10 days  Mature Height: 2.5 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - (H. annuus) Multi-headed flowers range from bright yellow to gold to dark burgundy, with some bicolors. Under ideal conditions, one plant can have up to two dozen flowers blooming at the same time. Very nice for cutting. Plants grow 5-8' tall. Annual, 60 days. Characteristics:  Organic Annual flowers Plants grow to 5-8 feet tall Flowers range in color from yellow to dark burgundy with some bi-colors 60 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (H. annuus) Classic Russian sunflower. Heads grow up to 12" in diameter on sturdy 6' stalks. Very good variety for edible seed production. Annual, 70 days.  Characteristics:  Organic Annual flowers with edible seeds Plants grow to 6 feet tall Flower heads grow to 12 inches across 70 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - (Helianthus annuus) Collected by Melvin Gilmore from the Arikara tribe at the Fort Berthold Reservation. First offered by Oscar H. Will in 1930. Sturdy plants grow up to 12' tall, flowers are single to multi-headed. Some single heads grow 12-16" across. Traditionally grown for its masses of edible seeds. Annual, 70 days. Characteristics:  Organic Annual flowers with edible seeds Plants grow to 12 feet tall Flower heads grow to 12-16 inches across 70 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of availability

The Seed Savers Exchange - A well-adapted introduction, most likely of Canadian Mennonite origin, later adopted by the Tarahumara tribe. Solid gold flowers are 8-10" in diameter. Primarily ivory-colored edible seeds with an occasional striped seed. Tolerant of poor conditions. Plants grow 6-9' tall. Annual, 80 days. Characteristics: Organic Annual flowers with golden petals grow to 10 inches across Edible seeds Plants grow to 6-9 feet tall Tolerates poor soil 80 days 25 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability

Renee's Garden - Named for the famous Dutch artist, our handsome variety offers the classic colors of the Van Gogh sunflower portraits. When they unfurl, the flower faces have bright yellow ray petals and center disks of rich gold surrounding a green center. As flowers mature, the disks turn a dark chocolate color. These vigorous plants bloom very early on strong single stems and make a gorgeous display. Van Gogh is pollen-free, so cut flowers have a longer vase life.   Characteristics:  Butterfly & Hummingbird favorites  Annual  Summer/fall bloom  Frost tender    Instructions - To plant outdoors, plant in full sun in good garden soil when the weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50°F range. Poke seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 5 inches apart. Press soil firmly over seeds and keep moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days. When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin seedlings to a final spacing of 1 foot apart so these tall plants will have ample room to grow. Extra-thinned seedlings can be transplanted easily. To start early indoors, several weeks before the last frost date, sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in individual pots of well-drained seed starting mix. Keep moist and provide a strong light source until seedlings are well established and ready to plant outside. Transplant carefully, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Space seedlings 1 foot apart so plants will have room to mature. These handsome tall flowers are easy and rewarding to grow. Make several sowings several weeks apart to have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well-weeded and protect very young seedlings from birds with netting or plastic berry baskets, removing them before plants get crowded. Plant in: May-June for cold winters; April-July for mild winters  Full sun  Sow seeds 4-5" apart; 1" deep Days to germinate: 8-10 days  Mature Height: 5-7 feet  Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute suppliers due to availability. 

The Seed Savers Exchange - (H. annuus) Striking 4" wide flower heads with mahogany-red petals and an almost black center. Well branched free-flowering plants with strong stems make this an ideal sunflower for borders or cut flowers. Plants grow 5-7' tall. Annual, 75-100 days.  Characteristics:  Annual flowers with multiple flower heads per plant Plants grow to 5-7 feet tall Flowers are mahogany-red and 4 inches across Ideal as cut flowers 75-100 days 100 seeds per packet  Instructions - Sow seeds outdoors after the last frost. Sunflowers prefer full sun to light shade and well-drained rich soil. Provide support for tall plants. Sow 1/2" Deep Plant 6" Apart Germination 10-14 days Plant 24-36" apart Light: Full Sun Firefly Farm & Mercantile may substitute seed vendors from time to time because of the availability