The flowers tend to face the sun, which should be taken into consideration when placing them in the garden. There are also a few pollen-free F1 hybrids for cut flower production, which have much lighter flower heads. Sunflowers can be used at the back of the border or for screening, the dwarf cultivars are also good in containers and flower beds. Massed in fields they have a spectacular large-scale landscaping effect. Birds and butterflies are attracted by sunflowers as an ample food source.
Most varieties make excellent cut flowers and last a long time, if cut just when starting to open.