Whether sunflowers come back every year depends on the variety. Helianthus is the genus name for sunflowers. There are annual and perennial species. If you plant a perennial variety, you’ll have new sunflowers the next growing season.
Here’s what you need to know about the differences between the two kinds. And if you cannot decide which type to grow and you have the space, plant both. You can never have enough sunflowers—and pollinators and birds love them, too.
With their bright, cheerful faces, sunflowers are a beloved warm-season flower. Their towering stems and mammoth flower heads instantly create a happy focal point in any garden. But once your sunflowers fade in fall, an important question arises – do you have to replant sunflowers every year for them to return? The answer depends on whether you grow annual or perennial sunflower varieties.
Annual Sunflowers Must Be Replanted
The iconic giant sunflowers that come to mind for most people are annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus). As true annuals, they complete their entire lifecycle of germination, growth, flowering, seed production, and death within a single growing season.
Every year, annual sunflower seeds must be directly sown into the garden They will not return on their own because the original plant dies after setting seed. Here are some other traits of annual sunflowers
- Fast growing, reaching maturity in about 70-90 days
- Shallow, fibrous root system
- Produce large seed heads up to 12 inches wide
- Grow on a single stem with smaller side shoots
- Bloom the first year from seed
Popular annual sunflower varieties include Mammoth, Sunspot, and Lemon Queen. Hybrid annuals will not grow true to type if you save and replant their seeds. To have the same plants year after year, you must purchase fresh seeds annually.
Perennial Sunflowers Return on Their Own
While annual sunflowers last just one season, perennial sunflower species will come back every year once established. After going through a juvenile non-flowering period the first year, perennial sunflowers sprout anew from their root system the following year.
Perennial sunflower traits include:
- Slower growth rate, taking 2+ years to flower
- Deep tuberous roots and spreading rhizomes
- Smaller 2-4 inch wide flower heads
- Multi-branched, clumping growth habit
- Bloom in mid to late summer
There are over 50 perennial sunflower species native to North America. Some popular kinds are Maximilian sunflowers, ashy sunflowers, and pale yellow thinleaf sunflowers. Their deep roots help them thrive with minimal care in prairie and meadow gardens.
Tips for Growing Both Annual and Perennial Sunflowers
You can enjoy the unique benefits of annual and perennial sunflowers by incorporating both types into your landscape. Here are some useful care tips:
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Site them in full sun locations with fertile, well-draining soil.
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Stake tall varieties to prevent toppling from wind and heavy flower heads.
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Water young plants regularly until their root systems establish, then water just 1 inch per week.
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Pinch back young annuals to encourage bushier plants less prone to flopping over.
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Deadhead spent blooms to encourage reblooming on perennials.
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Leave seed heads on annuals over winter for birds to enjoy.
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Mulch around the base to conserve soil moisture and reduce weeds.
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Add compost or balanced fertilizer to nurture growth.
With their beauty, hardiness, and wildlife benefits, sunflowers offer seasonal joy whether you grow them as annuals or perennials. A few simple care strategies will keep both types flourishing year after year.
Teddy Bear
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The double, deep yellow flowers of this bushy variety get their name from their cuddly look. Teddy bear sunflowers grow 2 to 4 feet high and are hardy in USDA zones 2-11.
Annual Sunflower Varieties
Annual sunflowers come in many varieties, primarily hybrids, meaning their seeds won’t produce a plant true to type. You’ll have to buy new seeds from a seed company every year if you want the same sunflowers next year.
Annual sunflowers are typically planted directly in the garden from seed. They need a soil temperature of at least 60 °F to germinate. Usually, that temperature is reached about three weeks after the last frost date. However, because spring weather is hard to predict, it’s better to wait a little longer.
For an early start to gardening, you can also start the seeds indoors about three weeks before the last frost date in your area. Use biodegradable pots because sunflowers do not like it when their roots are disturbed. If the soil has warmed to 60 to 70°F, plant them outside. Water them often until they are established. For the first few weeks, they only need about an inch of water a week, and they can even handle dry spells.
Popular varieties of Helianthus annuus include:
Can I Transplant Sunflowers? Let’s See What Happens…
FAQ
Will sunflowers come back every year?
Can you leave sunflower roots in the ground?
How do I know if my sunflower is annual or perennial?
Will sunflowers reseed themselves?
Do you need to re-plant annual sunflowers?
The annual kind however will only bloom once, and then you will need to re-plant them if you want to keep enjoying their beauty. Annual sunflowers will typically be labeled as Helianthus annuus, but if you would like to purchase seeds and are unsure, it would be best to consult your local gardening expert.
Do sunflowers come back every year?
Whether sunflowers come back every year depends on the variety. There are annual and perennial species in the Helianthus (sunflower) genus, and if you plant a perennial variety, you’ll be delighted with new sunflowers the following growing season. Here’s what you need to know about the differences between the two kinds.
Do sunflowers bloom every year?
Blooms – Annual sunflowers will bloom the first year after being planted from seeds, but perennial sunflowers grown from seed will not bloom for at least two years. Roots – Perennial sunflowers will have tubers and rhizomes attached to their roots, but annual sunflowers just have the typical string-like roots.
Can you grow annual sunflowers from seed?
Annual sunflowers come in many varieties, primarily hybrids, meaning their seeds won’t produce a plant true to type. If you want to have the same sunflowers next year, you’ll need to purchase fresh seeds from a seed company every year. Annual sunflowers are typically planted directly in the garden from seed.
What is the difference between annual and perennial sunflowers?
Sunflowers are either an annual (where they need to be replanted every year) or a perennial (where they will come back every year from the same plant) and telling the difference is not that hard if you know how. Some differences between annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) and perennial sunflowers (Helianthus multiflorus) include:
How long do sunflowers live?
First, observe the lifespan of the sunflowers. Annual sunflowers complete their life cycle within one year, meaning they grow, flower, produce seeds, and die all in one season. Perennial sunflowers, on the other hand, have a longer lifespan and can survive for multiple years, regrowing from the same root system each year.