('Valentine')
Common name: Sunflower
Family: Asteraceae, Aster
Height x width: 2'-10' x 8-12"
Growth rate: fast
Foliage: mostly alternate, ovate, scabrous-bristly (like sandpaper) above, hispid (hairy) below
Flowers: usually 3-6" across but up to 14" in giant type, ray flowers red or purple, disk flowers usually yellow to orange-yellow but sometimes with red markings
Hardiness: annual
Soil: well-drained, tolerates dry, better if moist
Light: sun
Pests and problems: leaf spots, powdery mildew, rusts, stem rot, aphids, cutworms, mechanical damage as from wind
Landscape habit, uses: borders, temporary screen, birds, dwarf types in containers, eating
Other interest: genus from the Greek helios meaning sun and anthos meaning flower, native to North America; much breeding in 1980's and 90's of new cultivars, many dwarf and other colors; grown in some countries for seed oil
Other culture: old stalks and massive roots may be difficult to remove from gardens
Propagation: seed (800-1200 per ounce) sown direct to field, or direct to containers 2-3 weeks before planting out
Species:
annuus (an-new' us)--main species of commerce; some species produce no pollen, so no sticky powder to stain surface, but also no seeds; pollen-producing species are needed if seeds are desired for birds; some species have seeds better for roasting and eating.
debilis (dee-bill' iss)--longer bloom, branched, long stems,
5000-6000 seeds per ounce
Cultivars: (of annuus unless noted)
| Cultivars | height | flowers | other |
| 'Aztec Gold' | medium, 6' | golden, 10-12" | edible, good screen |
| 'Autumn Giant Mix' | tall, 6-10' | mix, 6" | syn. 'Large Flowered Mix' |
| 'Big Smile' | dwarf, 12-15" | golden, black centers | early |
| 'Chianti' | medium, 4-5' | wine red, 3-4" | pollenless, branched |
| 'Full Sun' | golden, 6-8" | rust-resistant, good cut | |
| 'Fun 'n Sun Mix' | medium, 4-6' | mix, 3-8" | pollenless, 10 varieties |
| 'Happy Face' | medium, 2-4' | golden, 5" | greenish centers |
| 'Italian White' (debilis) | medium, 5' | ivory, 6" | dark center, good cut |
| 'Kid Stuff' | medium, 3' | golden, 10" | |
| 'Mammoth' | tall, 12' | golden, 12-15" | edible |
| 'Moonbright' | medium, 7' | lemon yellow, 4-6" | pollenless, good cut |
| 'Music Box' | dwarf, 2½' | mix, 4-5" | dark centers |
| 'Orange Sun' | medium, 3½" | tangerine, 5-6", double | |
| 'Park's Velvet Tapestry' | medium, 5-6' | mix, 4-6" | uniform height, flowers |
| 'Paul Bunyan' | tall, 13-15' | yellow, 8-12" | strong stalks, edible |
| 'Russian Giant' | tall, 8-10' | golden, 10-12" | |
| 'Sonja' | medium, 4' | tangerine, 4", horizontal | dark center, good cut |
| 'Sunbeam' | tall, 7' | golden, 4-6", green center | pollenless, good cut |
| 'Sunbright' | tall, 7' | yellow, 4-6", green center | pollenless, good cut |
| 'Sunburst Mix' | medium, 4' | mix, 4" | branched |
| 'Sundrops' | medium, 5' | golden, 3" | |
| Sunrich series | medium, 3' | lemon and orange, 4-6" | pollenless, good cut |
| 'Sunrise' | medium, 5' | yellow, 6" | basal branching, good cut |
| 'Sunset' | medium, 3' | mahogany, 6" | gold-tipped, branching |
| 'Sunspot' | dwarf, 18" | yellow, 12" | large centers, edible |
| 'Tangina' | medium, 3' | light orange, 4" | |
| 'Teddy Bear' | dwarf, 2' | golden, 6", double | uniform, bush-like |
| 'Valentine' | medium, 6' | lemon yellow, 4-6" | dark center, good cut |
| 'Velvet Queen' | medium, 5' | deep red, 5-6" | dark center |
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