Plants are quite drought-resistant except during flowering. One reason that sunflower is grown so widely is its relatively short growing season, generally requiring 90 to 100 days from planting to maturity. The crop may be grown on a wide range of soils, including poor soils, provided they are deep and well-drained, but the plants don't like acidic or waterlogged soils. The high stalks remaining after harvest make excellent snow traps. Sunflower oil has been researched as a potential diesel fuel substitute.
Most modern varieties are autogamous, able to produce seed without help from insect pollinators.