Sunspot is widely available from mail-order seed companies. Ornamental sunflowers are closely related to the edible varieties, but they're grown strictly for their showy blossoms. Whereas the large-seeded types are all yellow, ornamental sunflowers splash a wide range of bright colors across the summer garden. Golds, yellows and oranges dominate, but brush strokes of dark red, burgundy and bronze paint a bicolor effect. Flower form is usually daisy-like in the ornamental sunflowers, but the fully double blossoms of Orange Sun and Sole d'Oro resemble enormous powder puffs.
Annual sunflowers grow quickly from seed once the soil has warmed up.
Direct sow seeds in one-inch deep furrows and thin seedlings to the spacing recommended on the seed packet. Sunflowers are not petite plants. The shortest variety, dwarf Music Box Mix, grows to 3 feet tall. Be sure to give them enough room. Give all sunflowers rich well-drained soil and a sunny exposure.