Sunflowers are a great way to elevate your garden. Not only are they colorful, but they also attract bees, which then pollinate your other plants and help them all thrive. If you’re looking to add some sunflowers to your flower garden, you’ll first need to have all the facts. Fortunately for you, we’ve done the research and compiled it here for your convenience. We've compared the best sunflower seeds on the market, and safe to say, the Raw Earth Sunflower Packet is our favorite option on the list. Nevertheless, we've also included other options for those who'd like alternatives.
Our Top Picks For Sunflower Seeds
The Best Sunflower Seeds
Best Overall
The Raw Earth Sunflower Packet includes 100 premium giant sunflower seeds, which can reach a height of 8 to 12 feet plus a head diameter of 1 to 2 feet. These rare mammoth sunflower seeds grow best in sandy soil and full sun exposure, both important factors to consider before you plant them in your yard. Plan on planting them in spring, and you’ll see them start to shoot up during the same season if watered effectively.
Pros
- 80% germination rate
- Great for wedding and baby shower favors
- Non-GMO certified
Cons
- Sunflower heads might be smaller than expected
Key Features
Runner-Up
The Valley Greene Sunflower Packet contains a pack of 200 seeds with an expected planting period from spring to summer. This type of sunflower seed is a mammoth Russian breed. These sunflower seeds grow into a big yellow-flowered plant that grows on a 12″ stalk. It can be planted outdoors a month after the last frost of winter melts off and would bloom in 85 days. The height of this plant is 108″, the plant spread is 36″ and the blooms are 12″ tall. This seed booms a giant variety with a huge flower head that is great for competitions. It is adaptable to any weather and is easy to grow.
Pros
- Attracts butterflies
- Easy to grow
- From the mammoth Russian breed
Cons
- All the seeds may not sprout
Key Features
Honorable Mention
For those seeking some added variety of sunflowers, the NatureZ Edge Sunflower Packet is the perfect product. Including seeds for Autumn Beauties, Grey Stripes, Dwarf Sungolds, and more, this pack will fill your garden with sunflowers from 18 inches to 7 feet tall. Featuring yellow, orange, and red hues, these sunflowers will bloom periodically throughout the summer, and you can collect and save the seeds they produce for next year’s planting. With over 1300 sunflower seeds in the bag, you can easily add some beautiful pops of color to your yard or garden.
Pros
- Non-GMO sunflower seeds
- Numerous different types of sunflowers
- 1300+ seeds increase yields
Cons
- May be difficult to tell the difference between seeds
Key Features
Also Consider
The Jonsteen Company Sunflower Packet will eventually become sunflowers that produce edible seeds, giving you a tasty snack grown right in your own backyard. This product includes hundreds of giant sunflower seeds, giving you the facilities you need to add plenty of unique sunflowers to your yard. You can plant a whole patch of snack-producing sunflowers or just a few as accent plants in your existing garden.
Pros
- Yields edible seed
- Hundreds of seeds included
- Grow into beautiful giant sunflowers
Cons
- Not all the seeds may sprout
Key Features
Best for Large Patches
With enough seeds to cover 100 square feet with sunflowers, the Sweet Yards Mammoth Sunflower Packet is an ideal pick for those wanting to establish their own sunflower patch. These seeds come in premium packaging that features easy-to-follow instructions and a resealable zippered container. Fresh seeds lead to higher germination rates, while the full-grown sunflowers can tower over 10 feet tall.
Pros
- Over 250 seeds
- Non-GMO
- Produce hearty sunflowers
Cons
- Seeds may attract pesky birds and squirrels
Key Features
Most Seeds
The HOME GROWN Sunflower Packet includes 8 different types of sunflower seeds, all individually packaged so you know exactly what you’re planting. With over 1000 seeds in total, you should have no problem adding some sunflowers to your landscape. With this variety pack, you can fill your yard with red, orange, yellow, and brown sunflowers for a truly unique patch. They grow best in the spring with regular watering, and their small packets make for great party favors. Whether you’re hoping for Autumn Beauties or Velvet Queens, these sunflower seeds have you covered.
Pros
- Individually packaged types of seeds
- 1000+ seeds
- Great party favors
Cons
- Each type needs different amounts of sunlight
Key Features
Most Variety in Color
For the Outsidepride Sunflower Packet, you can choose between a 1/4 and 1 pound bag, depending on how many sunflowers you want for your yard. This package includes a mixture of different sunflowers, so you can expect to see various colors upon blooming. They require full sunlight and regular watering to reach their maximum height and health. These specific sunflowers grow 60-72 inches tall, providing shade for your other plants.
Pros
- Variety of colors
- Annual blooming
- 5 to 10-inch blooms
Cons
- Hard to tell the seeds apart
Key Features
Selecting the Best Sunflower Seeds: A Buying Guide
Sunflowers are truly remarkable plants—and not just due to their towering height. They are heliotropic, meaning they turn themselves throughout the day to constantly face the sun. Hence, it’s no surprise that such an intriguing plant successfully attracts bees and birds. While the bees help pollinate your other flowers, the birds may eat sunflower seeds or other produce, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on your garden.
Sunflowers come in many shapes and sizes, so you should have an idea of what you want before purchasing your seeds. Some sunflowers stay small and pollen-free, making them favorites for bouquets and indoor displays. Others use sunflower seed kernels for their health benefits. While dry roasted sunflower seeds are crunchy snacks with healthy fats, remember to eat sunflower seeds in moderation. Sunflower seeds are also considered one of the best food sources of vitamin E. Furthermore, sunflower seeds are pressed to form sunflower oil.
Choosing the best sunflower seeds may not be as easy as you think. There are a lot of factors to consider as getting the wrong seed might jeopardize the health of your other plants. We choose only the best sunflower seeds in the product review above to ensure that you buy a quality product. Here’s what you need to know before buying sunflower seeds for your garden.
The Pros and Cons of Planting Sunflowers in My Garden
Sunflowers can provide much-needed shade for other plants in your garden, thanks to their height and head size. A group of sunflowers planted close together form a natural wall, which is a unique alternative to hedges or bushes that normally hide the unappealing parts of your landscape.
Sunflower plants also help prevent weeds from overtaking your garden, since their seeds contain a natural weed-killing chemical. Moreover, sunflower roots filter heavy metals out of your soil, leaving behind a healthier environment for your various plants.
The natural weedkillers in sunflowers have their drawbacks, though, as they can stunt the growth of plants in close proximity. In addition, sunflowers attract birds and squirrels, leading them right to your other flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Strong winds may knock over sunflowers, possibly uprooting them and other plants around them. For these reasons, you may want to establish your sunflowers a little farther away from your other plants.
The Different Types of Sunflowers
Mammoth sunflower
These are some of the most common yellow sunflowers, growing up to 12 feet in height.
Autumn beauty
This type of sunflower plant features a broader color spectrum, with 6-inch flowers in shades of yellow, bronze, and mahogany. They typically grow up to 7 feet tall.
Sunrich gold
Growing no taller than 5 feet and featuring only one flower, this pollen-free sunflower finds its way into many bouquets and floral arrangements.
Teddy bear
This sunflower won’t surpass 3 feet in height, making it great for residential gardens and backyards. Its gold blossoms typically span about 5 inches in diameter.
Sundance kid
This dwarf flower rarely exceeds two feet in height, and it flaunts red and yellow flowers for a unique look.
Earthwalker
With dark red, brown, and gold hues, this sunflower grows 6 to 9 feet tall for a truly one-of-a-kind addition to your yard.
How to Plant Sunflower Seeds
- Plant seeds 1 to 1.5 inches deep and 6 inches apart in the soil
- If you’re planting multiple rows of sunflowers, ensure that they’re at least 30 inches apart to allow for maximum growth
- You may need to add some fertilizer to help your sunflower seeds sprout or netting to keep birds from eating the seeds before they take root
For more information on how to grow your sunflower seeds, check out this helpful video.
How to Care for Sunflowers
- Sunflower seeds should be watered daily to promote healthy growth
- When your seed has turned into a tiny sunflower, limit your plant to one through watering per week, unless the weather suggests otherwise
- Water in a circle around the sunflower about 3-4 inches from the stem
- Use several gallons of water on growing sunflowers to ensure a deep watering
People Also Asked
How long does it take sunflowers to grow?
Sunflowers of the giant variety can grow 12 feet in less than 3 months, which is why spring is the ideal time to plant. This way, by mid-summer, your sunflowers will be a towering aspect of any garden. Most species of sunflowers should reach maturity in 70-100 days, if you are properly taking care of them.
Do sunflowers grow back each year?
Sunflowers will typically not grow back by themselves each year, meaning you'll have to plant new sunflower seeds each spring. In addition to this, you may have to tear down the stalks at the end of the fall, since they won't decompose on their own.
What climate is best for growing sunflowers?
Temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for growing sunflowers. They can handle high heat as long as they are still being watered deeply and regularly (about once a week).
