Dwarf Sunflower

Description:  Sunflowers may seem like something you can't grow unless you have a backyard because they can be so tall and sometimes require extra support to keep them standing. Fortunately, that's not completely true. There are some varieties of sunflowers called dwarf sunflowers that you can grow in a small area do very well in a container. These types of sunflowers only grow to be one or two feet tall making them great for those who have limited space. Not only are dwarf sunflowers an excellent choice for small gardens, but they're also great for cut flower arrangements. They won't take up too much space in your garden, and they're easy to harvest. No ladder required! For more informtion see: plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/helianthus-annuus

Care and Growing Tips:  Dwarf sunflower care isn't much different from how you take care of the full-sized varieties. They still need lots of suns, but the major difference is that if you keep them in a container, you'll have to water them more frequently. Since dwarf varieties only get between 1 and 2 feet tall, they're less likely to need additional support to help them stand up, and they won't cast as much shade over the rest of the garden. So, you can plant them near your vegetables, by your house, or almost anywhere that gets plenty of sun.

The best part of dwarf sunflowers is that you can grow them in containers. The bigger container you can find, the better, but they need to be in at least a 6-inch pot. All varieties of Helianthus annuus require full sunlight, which is at least six hours each day. One of the benefits of growing dwarf sunflowers in containers is that you can move the pot around as needed to get the maximum amount of sunlight each day. You can also bring the pot indoors during cold weather, so you can extend your growing season, too!

Sunflowers require plenty of nutrients, but dwarf varieties won't need as much as the 12-foot tall giant varieties, so you won't have to use as much fertilizer. To give your sunflowers a good head start, give them soil with lots of organic matter like decaying leaves or compost. You can top them off with more compost or use a slow-release fertilizer as they grow. Too much nitrogen will cause the plant to focus on growing foliage rather than flowers, so you may want to opt for a fertilizer that's low in nitrogen. Most dwarf sunflower varieties will require an inch of water each week. You'll know it's time to water again with the top half-inch of soil is dry. Since sunflowers are very drought tolerant, you can wait until the top inch of soil is dry instead. Sunflowers don't like wet feet, so don't plant them in areas where water will puddle up. If you plant them in containers, be sure there are drainage holes at the bottom so excess water can easily drain out. Containers always need to be watered more frequently than in-ground flower beds, so expect to water more often if you're using a container