Helianthus annuus

Helianthus annuus (common sunflower) — a tall, sun-tracking annual native to North America, domesticated by Indigenous peoples for its seeds and oil. The botanical home of our sunflower range.

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  • Sunflower White Sun F1 Petals seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower White Sun F1 Petals (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Seeds White Sun F1 Helianthus Annuus Annual White Petals
    €5,95

    White Sun F1 sunflower for bright borders Sunflower seeds ‘White Sun F1’ produce an annual flower with creamy white petals and a warm golden centre, creating a refined look in sunny beds and mixed plantings....
  • Sunflower White Moon F1 seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower White Moon F1 (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Seeds White Moon F1 Helianthus Annuus Annual Flower
    €5,95

    White Moon F1 sunflower for bright gardens Sunflower seeds White Moon F1 produce an elegant annual flower with vanilla-toned petals that appear whiter in strong light and a striking dark centre. This white petals dark...
  • Sunflower Evening Sun Red Yellow seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Evening Sun Red Yellow (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Evening Sun Red Yellow Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €3,56€4,45

    Warm-toned annual sunflower for garden impact sunflower evening sun seeds are a striking choice for gardeners who want bold, warm colour in an annual display. This evening sun sunflower variety produces red brown sunflower blooms...
  • Sunflower Compact Spray seeds (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower Sunflower Compact Spray (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Compact Spray Seeds Organic Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €3,96€4,95

    Organic compact sunflower for borders and pots sunflower compact spray seeds are an organic flower choice for gardeners who want a neat, space-saving plant with plenty of visual impact. This compact sunflower variety produces a...
  • Sunflower Moonwalker seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Moonwalker (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Moonwalker Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual Flower
    €4,95

    Tall annual sunflower for sunny garden borders sunflower moonwalker seeds produce an impressive annual flower with soft, pale yellow sunflower flowers and a distinctive dark centre. This tall annual sunflower is valued for its strong...
  • Sunflower Sungold Double Dwarf seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Sungold Double Dwarf (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Seeds Sungold Double Helianthus Annuus Annual Dwarf Variety
    €3,56€4,45

    Sunflower variety with rich, double golden blooms sunflower seeds ‘Sungold Double’ are an annual dwarf variety selected for compact growth and distinctive, fully double, pompon-style flowers in warm golden tones. This sungold double sunflower brings...
  • Sunflower Moulin Rouge seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Moulin Rouge (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Moulin Rouge Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual Flower
    €4,95

    Deep red annual sunflower for sunny gardens sunflower moulin rouge seeds produce a striking annual flower with rich, dark red to brownish-red tones. This branching sunflower variety is valued for creating repeated blooms through the...
  • Sunflower Sungold Dwarf Double Flowered seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Sungold Dwarf Double Flowered (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Sungold Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual Dwarf Double Flowered
    €3,56€4,45

    Golden double blooms for borders and pots sunflower sungold seeds produce a compact, eye-catching annual with richly double, golden blooms that resemble soft pompons. This golden pompon sunflower variety is valued for adding structure and...
  • Sunflower Evening Sun seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Evening Sun (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Evening Sun Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €4,95

    Sunflower Evening Sun for warm-toned summer color sunflower evening sun seeds are a striking choice for gardeners who want rich, sunset-like tones in an annual display. This tall sunflower variety reaches around 180 cm and...
  • Sunflower Sunset Mixed seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Sunset Mixed (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Seeds Sunset Mixed Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €4,45

    Sunset Mixed annual sunflowers for bold borders sunflower seeds Sunset Mixed bring warm, dramatic colour to summer displays, with distinctive red-brown sunflower blooms that stand out in beds and borders. This annual sunflower variety develops...
  • Sunflower For Pots Pacino 40 Cm seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower For Pots Pacino 40 Cm (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Seeds For Pots Helianthus Annuus Pacino Annual 40 Cm
    €5,95

    Compact sunflower variety made for containers Sunflower seeds for pots ‘Pacino’ are a container sunflower variety bred for compact growth and a neat, upright habit. This is an annual flower seed selection that typically reaches...
  • Sunflower Ring Of Fire seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Ring Of Fire (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Ring Of Fire Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €4,95

    Flame-toned annual sunflower for sunny gardens sunflower ring of fire seeds are a striking choice for bright, warm-coloured displays, producing distinctive bicolour sunflower flowers with a flame-like blend of deep reddish-brown tones fading into yellow....
  • Sunflower Henri Wilde seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Henri Wilde (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Henri Wilde Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual Flower
    €4,45

    Tall annual sunflower with branching flower stems sunflower henri wilde seeds are a striking choice for gardeners looking for a tall, architectural annual flower with multiple blooms per plant. This branching sunflower variety develops strong...
  • Ornamental Sunflower Multicolor Mix seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Ornamental Sunflower Multicolor Mix (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Sunflower Seeds Helianthus Annuus Multicolor Annual Mix
    €4,95

    Multicolour annual sunflowers for sunny garden displays Ornamental sunflower seeds bring bold, multicolour blooms to beds and borders with the classic sunflower look in a lively annual mix. This selection of Helianthus annuus is known...
  • Giant Sunflower Giganteus seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Giant Sunflower Giganteus (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Giant Sunflower Seeds Helianthus Annuus Giganteus Annual Flower
    €4,45

    Giant annual sunflower for bold garden height giant sunflower seeds are ideal for anyone who wants a classic, single giant sunflower variety with impressive presence in the summer border. This tall annual sunflower seeds selection...
  • Sunflower Giganteus 250 Cm Tall seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Giganteus 250 Cm Tall (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Seeds Helianthus Annuus Giganteus Annual 250 Cm Tall
    €4,45

    Giant annual sunflower for striking garden height Sunflower seeds produce a classic giant annual that brings bold structure to borders and cutting gardens. This tall sunflower variety is known for reaching around 250 cm and...
  • Sunflower Fantasy 70 Cm seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Fantasy 70 Cm (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Fantasy Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual Flower 70 Cm
    €4,95

    Sunflower Fantasy for colourful summer garden borders sunflower fantasy seeds are an eye-catching annual flower choice for bright, warm-season displays. This annual sunflower variety produces blooms in rich yellow, orange, and brown tones, creating a...
  • Sunflower Pacino seeds (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower Sunflower Pacino (Helianthus annuus) – annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Pacino Seeds Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €3,96€4,95

    Compact annual sunflower for pots and borders Sunflower Pacino seeds are a compact, low-growing choice for bright seasonal colour in small spaces. This dwarf sunflower reaches around 40 cm tall, making it a practical patio...
  • Sunflower Single Giant seeds (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower Sunflower Single Giant (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    Sunflower Single Giant Seeds Organic Helianthus Annuus Annual
    €4,95

    Organic giant sunflower for dramatic garden height sunflower single giant seeds are an organic flower choice for anyone who wants a classic, towering annual with bold impact. This single flower sunflower variety is known for...
  • Sunflower Nakdi F1 Pollen Free seeds (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower Sunflower Nakdi F1 Pollen Free (Helianthus annuus) – organic annual flower seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Sunflower Seeds Nakdi F1 Organic Helianthus Annuus Annual Pollen Free
    €4,76€5,95

    Organic sunflower for bold, pollen-free garden color Sunflower seeds ‘Nakdi F1’ are an organic flower choice for gardeners who want a clean, showy display with strong visual impact. This pollen free sunflower variety produces a...
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Helianthus annuus — the common sunflower

Helianthus annuus, the common sunflower, is a tall, fast-growing annual in the daisy family (Asteraceae) and one of the most recognisable flowers in the world. Cheerful, generous and easy from seed, it is the species behind our entire sunflower range within the flower seed collection.

History & origin

The sunflower is native to North America, where Indigenous peoples domesticated it thousands of years ago — using it for edible seeds, oil, flour, dye and medicine long before it reached the wider world. Spanish explorers carried it back across the Atlantic in the 16th century, first as a curiosity in botanical gardens and then, in Eastern Europe and Russia, as a major agricultural oilseed. It was largely Russian breeders who developed the big oil-rich types grown around the world today.

Its botanical name joins the Greek helios (sun) and anthos (flower), a nod to the way young plants track the sun across the sky — a habit known as heliotropism. Mature heads usually settle facing east, warming early in the morning to draw in pollinators.

Botanical characteristics

From knee-high dwarf types to giants over three metres tall, Helianthus annuus carries the classic bloom — which is in fact a composite head of hundreds of tiny florets ringed by bright ray petals. The spiral of seeds at its centre follows a striking mathematical pattern that packs them with remarkable efficiency. Beyond the familiar yellow, modern varieties span cream, lemon, bronze, rust-red and deep chocolate, in single-stem and multi-headed branching forms. Their pollen- and nectar-rich faces make sunflowers a favourite among our pollinator flowers and bee-friendly flowers, while the branching types are prized in our cut-flower range.

Growing Helianthus annuus from seed

Sunflowers are among the easiest and most rewarding flowers to grow from seed, which makes them a brilliant first sow for children. Sow after the last frost directly into warm soil, or start them in pots indoors and harden off before planting out. Give them full sun and shelter from strong wind, and stake the tall varieties early in exposed gardens. Leave the spent heads standing in autumn and the ripe seeds will feed finches and other birds well into winter. The flower growing guide and flower sowing calendar cover the details.

Ready to grow sunflowers? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Sunflower · Pollinator Flowers · Bee-Friendly Flowers · Cut Flowers · All Flower Seeds

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Helianthus annuus?
It is the botanical name for the common sunflower, a tall annual in the daisy family.

Where do sunflowers originate?
From North America, where Indigenous peoples domesticated them thousands of years ago for seeds and oil.

What does the name mean?
It joins the Greek helios (sun) and anthos (flower), reflecting how young plants follow the sun.

Do sunflowers really follow the sun?
Young buds track the sun across the day (heliotropism); mature heads usually settle facing east.

How do I grow sunflowers from seed?
Sow after the last frost into warm soil in full sun, and stake the tall varieties.