13 Crazy-Colorful Sunflowers to Grow in Your Garden

Toss out everything you know about sunflowers. These vibrant beauties come in a rainbow of colors.

By: Lynn Coulter

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Photo By: Image courtesy of National Garden Bureau

Photo By: Image courtesy of Burpee

Photo By: Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company

Photo By: Image courtesy of Burpee

Photo By: Image courtesy of Seed Savers Exchange

Photo By: Image courtesy of Burpee

Photo By: Image courtesy of Seed Savers Exchange

Photo By: Image courtesy of National Garden Bureau

Grow Sunflowers in Cheerful Colors

Colorful sunflowers are easy to grow from seeds, and they're great to plant for bees and other important pollinators. Sunflower colors range from cream to gold, yellow, orange, red, mahogany and chocolate brown. There are even pink sunflowers, but if you see blue sunflower seeds for sale, be wary. There's a deep, dark red hybrid that some gardeners consider purple, but there aren't any blue sunflowers in nature.

Need a fun project to do with kids? Plant sunflower seeds, which are large enough for even small hands to manage. Choose from tall or tiny varieties. Children can plant the seeds of giant sunflowers about six inches deep, in two rows, to make a shady playhouse. You can pick small types to enjoy in vases and bouquets. Browse these sunflower pictures to find your favorites.

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflower 'Shock-O-Lat'

'Shock-O-Lat' is a sunflower with giant flowerheads and lots of branches. The blooms are the deep, dark brown color of a chocolate bar, and they're highlighted with golden tips. A gold halo circles each center disk, too. Although each flower is slightly different in coloration, all are pollen-free, so they're fine for vases. This variety tops out at about 6 feet tall.

Learn More: How Long to Germinate Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower 'Coconut Ice'

'Coconut Ice' is a relatively new sunflower variety with creamy vanilla-white petals that transition to white at the tips. One flower is produced per stem on plants that grow 4 to 5 feet high. The black centers make a bold contrast to the blossoms, measuring 4 to 8 inches across.

Learn More: Tall and Tiny Sunflower Varieties

‘Prado Red Shades’ Sunflower (Helianthus ‘Prado Red Shades’)

‘Prado Red Shades’ isn’t your typical sunflower. Unusual chocolate-tinted centers sport a collar of red petals. Plants top out at 4 feet. Pinch stems when five sets of leaves have formed, and you’ll be rewarded with seven to 10 full size flowers for bouquets.

Learn More: 20 Flowers for a Cutting Garden

Sunflower 'Strawberry Blonde'

'Strawberry Blonde' is said to be the first rose-pink sunflower, with petals brushed with lemon-yellow and a dark "eye." The plants branch nicely, so they're good for cutting, and the flowers are pollen-free, so they won't stain your skin or furnishings. Space the plants every 12 inches apart and expect them to reach 6 feet tall.

Learn More: Tall and Tiny Sunflower Varieties

Sunflower 'Solar Flare'

'Solar Flare' sunflowers practically beam and glow in the garden, with scarlet red petals that brighten to gold at the tips. Its center disk is a striking deep black. Give this variety lots of room, as it grows 5-6 feet tall, and use it as a cutting flower.

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflower 'Ms. Mars'

'Ms. Mars' sunflowers are a new and unusual merlot color. The petals, leaves and even the stems are a dark red-purple. As the blooms open, they become lighter pink at the tips. The plants grow 20 to 30 inches tall and love full sun.

Find More Ideas: 41 Black Flowers & Plants

Sunflower 'Lemon Queen'

'Lemon Queen' has lovely lemon yellow petals and dark, chocolate-brown centers. The plants bear multiple branches and multiple blooms, and grow to 10 feet in height. Give them full sun and well-drained soil, and plant every few weeks for a longer flowering period.

Learn More: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflower 'Orange Sun'

'Orange Sun' are a lovely bright orange, and the nearly double flowers have an usual row of single outer petals. The big heads measure up to 6 inches across, and remind many gardeners of chrysanthemums. Give them full sun, well-drained soil, and room to reach their mature height of 6 to 8 feet tall.

Learn More: 24 Can't-Kill Flowers for Beginners

Sunflower 'Irish Eyes'

Dwarf 'Irish Eyes' sunflowers have pointed, gold petals and bright green centers. This variety is a great choice for a cutting garden or pots and planters on a patio. The plants grow to 4 feet in about 60 days after the seeds are sown.

Find More Ideas: The Best Flowers for Pots in Full Sun

Sunflower 'Chianti'

Wine-red 'Chianti' sunflowers are flecked with gold. Use this variety, with its unusual purple stems, for drama in your garden. The plants grow 4 to 5 feet high and produce lots of branches. Since the flowers are pollen-free, they're nice for cutting for bouquets and vases.

Learn More: How Long to Germinate Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower 'Ring of Fire'

Set your garden ablaze with 'Ring of Fire.' Its fiery petals transition from dark red to golden yellow at the tips as they flare out from dark centers. The plants branch heavily and produce long side stems, making them excellent for cutting. This variety matures at 5 to 6 feet tall about 60 days from sowing.

Find More Ideas: Growing Sunflowers: When to Plant and How to Grow Sunflowers

Sunflower 'Valentine'

Bred in Budapest, Hungary, 'Valentine' produces primrose-yellow blooms with dark brown centers. Its long side branches make it a good choice for cut flowers; snip the stems just before the flowers open, and they'll last a long time in vases. The plants grow to 5 feet if given full sun and well-drained soil. Flowers appear about 70 days from sowing.

Learn More: Sunflower Seeds: Nutrition and Health Benefits

Sunflower 'Goldie'

'Goldie' sunflowers are plants with multiple branches and huge, cheerful, golden-yellow blooms. Save these 5-foot beauties for the back of garden beds and borders, or use them in a cutting garden. The double-petaled flowers measure 8 to 10 inches across.

Learn More: The Best Flowers for Full Sun