Tall and Tiny Sunflower Varieties

Whether you're trying to squeeze a few plants into a corner of your yard or you want something big enough to hide an unsightly shed, there's a tall or dwarf sunflower to fit your needs. Look for colorful varieties in shades of gold, yellow, cream, red and chocolate brown. There's even a rosy-pink sunflower. These plants are easy to grow from seeds or starts and don't require a lot of care.

Dwarf sunflowers usually grow no more than three feet tall and don't need staking. They're ideal for small outdoor spaces, pots or window boxes. Big sunflowers can top out at 15 feet or more, so they'll benefit from support. Plant the giant varieties to create a living fence or screen, or let kids make a playhouse under them. Explore our sunflower pictures to find different heights, flower shapes and colors.

'Little Becka' sunflower tucks nicely into small garden spaces and grows just 3 feet tall. The 6-inch flowers have deep red petals surrounded by glowing yellow "halos." This dwarf bicolor works well in borders or in a bed of cutting flowers. Give it full sun and well-drained soil.

If you have children, grow an almost-instant playhouse for them to enjoy. The stalks of 'Sunforest Mix' sunflower can reach 10-15 feet high and spread up to 40 inches across. Plant the seeds in blocks, leaving 3 to 4 feet between each block, to create a living maze. The blooms typically measure a foot or more across.

Said to be the shortest sunflower ever, 'Elf' blooms for a long period of time, bearing bright gold, 4-inch blooms atop 16-inch stems. Try them for a children's garden or a low border. They'll attract lots of butterflies to your garden.