From golden giants to pale pink petals on petite plants, these cheery flowers are more versatile than you thinkSunflowers are one of those species that really do tick every box. Aesthetically, they are as showy and dazzling as they come. Practically, they are incredibly easy to grow, with really good resistance to drought and pests. Economically, you can grow dozens of them from seed for less than the price of a pint and, if you save the ones you grow, you can produce hundreds more the next year. Yet perhaps the reason they aren’t as popular as they deserve to be is that few people are aware of their enormous diversity, which goes far beyond the giant, yellow types that immediately come to mind. So here is my attempt to address that.Let’s start with one that couldn’t be further from the archetype of dinner plate-sized blooms of golden yellow. ‘Sun Fill Green’ has a cool mutation that has dramatically stunted its ability to produce petals, which makes the leafy-green sepals that normally remain hidden really come to the fore. Imagine a curious cross between an artichoke and a regular sunflower, creating a sort of exotic, emerald sea-creature look. With blooms held high on 180cm plants, they have the long stems that are perfect for flower arrangers and an enormous vase life. Continue reading…
Source : theguardian.com
Read more…A sunflower for every garden
