So civilized are they that sunflowers are now quite welcome as a cut flower indoors and yes, even on the dining room table. In earth terms, the transformation has come about in the blink of an eye, but in people terms, it's been happening in the past four years or so, according to Alana Mezo, a senior horticulturist at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Simply, the colors and versatility that have been added by breeders in recent years. Italian White is one of her favorites because it bears so many flowers and over so many weeks that it's not unusual to see, on the same plant, flowers fresh for cutting and other flowers gone to seed and being enjoyed by goldfinches and chickadees. Sunflowers are easy to grow.
Most gardeners sow seeds directly in the garden, after danger of frost has past.
They do best in full sun and average soil. They need a fair amount of water, especially in hot, sunny spots, because a lot of moisture is lost through the abundant foliage. Day temperatures in the mid-80s are ideal. One way of helping that along is to plant sunflowers near a south-facing building where reflective heat will keep the air a little warmer than in surrounding areas. A big mistake is spacing the plants too close together.