Sunflowers are one of the most iconic and cheery flowers. With their big, bright yellow petals and tall stems they instantly bring a touch of sunshine. But when it comes to decorating are sunflowers more of a summer or fall flower? The answer is that their versatility allows them to shine in both seasons.
Sunflowers Bloom in Summer and Fall
Sunflowers are native to North and South America and come in a variety of sizes and colors. They typically bloom during the summer months of June through August. However depending on the variety sunflowers can bloom from early summer all the way until the first frost in fall.
So sunflowers are very much a summer flower. But they continue going strong into fall as well. This long bloom time makes them a fantastic transition flower between the two seasons.
Sunflowers for Summer Decor
Sunflowers just screams summer. Their big, bright flowers remind us of sunshine, being outdoors, and the laidback feeling of the season. Here are some ways to use sunflowers in summer decor:
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Place a vase of fresh cut sunflowers on your kitchen table or island. The cheery blooms will bring summer spirit inside.
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Put together a summer wreath for your front door using a straw base, sunflowers, greenery, and ribbon. Welcome guests with the flowers of the season.
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Accent your mantel or shelves with a sunflower wreath or garland. The bold yellow looks fantastic against white walls.
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Add sunflower stems to a galvanized tub or bucket near your front door to create a pretty summer display.
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Use faux sunflowers in outdoor planters and pots for low maintenance color.
Sunflowers pair beautifully with other quintessential summer elements like lemons, berries, fruit, mason jars, burlap, and daisies.
Sunflowers Transition into Fall
While sunflowers scream summer, they continue blooming into early fall. This makes them a fantastic transitional flower before autumn is in full swing. Here are some ways to use sunflowers in fall decor:
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Place sunflowers in a vase with other fall favorites like mums, zinnias, and marigolds. The combo bridges summer and fall.
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Make a centerpiece with sunflowers, mini pumpkins, leaves, acorns, and twine. The natural elements blend the seasons.
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Add sunflower stems to your fall wreath along with leaves, berries, and dried foliage.
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Arrange sunflowers with gourds, pinecones, and leaves in a galvanized bucket for you front porch or entryway table.
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Scatter faux sunflower heads amongst your Halloween decor for bright pops of color.
Sunflowers pair well with autumnal tones like burgundy, hunter green, orange, and brown. Try combining them with plaid, burlap, corn husks, and woven textures.
Drying Sunflowers for Long Lasting Fall Decor
To enjoy sunflowers even after summer ends, consider drying them for fall and winter decor. Here are some quick tips:
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Cut sunflowers when the petals start drooping downward but before the head is completely closed. This is usually when the backside is yellow but the petals are still vibrant.
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Remove excess leaves so just an inch or two of stem remains.
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Air dry the sunflowers upside down in a dry, dark area for 1-3 weeks until completely dried.
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Spray with a clear acrylic sealer to preserve the flowers if desired.
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Display the dried sunflowers in fall wreaths, centerpieces, wall art, and more. Enjoy their glory well past summer!
Dried sunflowers pair beautifully with natural fall textures like wheat stems, curly willow branches, cotton bolls, and corn husks.
Decorating with Sunflowers Any Season
While sunflowers shine in summer and fall, their bold beauty works in decor any time of year. Here are some more ideas:
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Brighten up winter with a big sunflower wreath on your front door or above the fireplace.
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Use faux or dried sunflowers in dreamy Bohemian bedroom decor year round.
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Display sunflowers on your Easter and spring table among pastels for pops of sunshine.
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Incorporate sunflower designs and colors into sunny yellow kitchen decor.
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Craft giant paper sunflowers for a fun birthday party or baby shower.
No matter what season, sunflowers add a dose of happiness with their cheerful disposition. Embrace their versatility and let those sunny faces shine all year long!
Cheerful Sunflowers are perfect for transitional Summer-to-Fall decorating!
Hello friends! I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather where you are in late August. Summer is coming to an end, and fall is almost here. In Kentucky, sunflowers are putting on a beautiful show right now. They will stay in bloom for a few more weeks as we slowly move into fall. I’ve always loved how these happy flowers take us from summer to fall in the garden and around the house. With that in mind, today I am sharing some beautiful ideas for summer-to fall decorating with sunflowers. *This post contains affiliate links.
In most gardening zones sunflowers start to bloom during mid-late summer. There may not be many other fall signs in the garden when they first start to bloom.
Sunflowers are the quintessential late summer cut flower for bouquets and unique arrangements. I love how they look when tucked into old buckets and vintage tins.
They bring beautiful, bright yellow happiness to the garden and summer scenes. Sunflowers are like sunshine.
Sunflowers and lemons are simply perfect for brightening up any summer of space!
I put them together last summer to make a pretty French Farmhouse Lemons and Sunflowers Tablescape.
I adore the use of sunflowers in country-farmhouse and summer cottage garden vignettes.
Sunshine sunflowers are great all summer, but many people have also used them to welcome fall in the past.
In my home I use sunflowers to begin the transition into fall before pumpkins arrive on the scene.
A few years ago I purchased four gorgeous sunflower pillow covers that I just love. I move them all around my home in August and September.
Going back to school and apple picking time are my favorite times of the year, late August and early September.
Sunflowers can also be beautifully “peared” with other harvest fruits. Isn’t this grouping just stunning?
Sunflowers are just as lovely with pumpkins as they are with lemons and apples. I like how these white pumpkins and sunflowers keep things bright and airy, which is great for early fall when it may still be pretty hot.
As fall moves on, real or fake sunflowers look beautiful with traditional fall fruits, colorful leaves, harvest treasures, and fall-themed decorations.
Fall Tablescape~Dimples and Tangles
Sunflowers that have been blooming for a while are a great way to capture the beauty of one season ending and another beginning.
Dried sunflower heads are so pretty grouped with pumpkins and other fall treasures!
Dried sunflower heads are also gorgeous under glass as cloche displays.
Here is the very first sunflower I have grown since living here at the yellow brick home. It bloomed late last week, and I’m so happy! I had a big patch of them earlier in the summer, but deer found them and ate them all! A few live, so I kept them under bird netting until I was ready to pick them. I plan to pick this later this week to enjoy in a vase indoors. I will share a few photos of how I style my prized sunflower!.
Next year I want to grow “Moulin Rouge” sunflowers or one of the dark burgandy varieties. I think the darker sunflowers are stunning for late fall.
I hope you have enjoyed these bright and sunny ideas for late summer-to-fall decorating with sunflowers. Would you like to share your love of sunflowers with me? How do you use them in your home decor?
Thanks for visiting today! Amber
What do you think? Are these sunflowers for fall or summer ☀️? Let me know what you think!
When do sunflowers bloom?
Sunflowers ( Helianthus annuus) are a treasure of summertime. They typically begin blooming in the mid-summer and can persist into early fall. The flowers, which stretch around 3 to 6 inches across on average, have a broad central disk surrounded by short, yellow petals.
Are sunflowers annuals or perennials?
The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources. Cherished for their beauty, Sunflowers (Helianthus) are striking annuals or perennial plants grown for their colorful summer and fall blooms.
Are sunflowers heat tolerant?
With bright blooms that go all summer, sunflowers are heat-tolerant, resistant to pests, and attractive to pollinators. Harvest the seeds in late summer and fall for a healthy snack or for the birds! Learn how to plant, grow, and care for sunflowers. The sunflower ( Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant with a sizeable daisy-like flower face.
Can you get a second flowering of sunflowers?
However, if you live in a warmer climate, you can get a second planting in for mid and late fall flowers. Late season sunflowers may grow a little shorter or produce fewer flowers because there will be fewer daylight hours. You can still get a second blossoming of sunflowers as long as it isn’t too cold though.