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. Pinch the plants when young to keep them a bit shorter.
Ornamental sunflowers make excellent and long-lasting cut flowers.
Unfortunately, their pollen can stain fabrics, so where that might be a problem, it's best to plant pollen-free hybrids such as Sunbeam. Proper harvesting and conditioning will help bouquets last up to two weeks. Choose blooms that have not quite fully opened, and cut long stems in the garden. Stem cuts not fatal After bringing them indoors, recut stems under running water. Remove the bottom leaves and immediately plunge the stems into a container of warm water.