This is another fine, award winning dwarf Sunflower Deep chocolate-coloured flowers. Heat and drought resistant. Choice and very scarce.

A dwarf variety, suitable to the middle rather than back of the border. One of the earliest of varieties to flower, it is a much-branching plant producing lovely, opulent blooms five inches or so across in a rich golden-brown colour. An ideal plant to grow in a large clump at the foot of large trees or near the edge of a pool. Surprisingly, tolerant of partial shade...

Best planted in masses in large gardens where "their magnificent flowers... assume an air of regal splendour." --Booth

Sowing:
Sow indoors in Feb-April, outdoors in May

Starting in pots:
For early flowers, start indoors as early as February or March, to germinate in about 10 days at 60 - 65°F. Plant out in April or May.
Use 7.5cm (3in) pots and a good sowing compost. Sow one seed 2.5mm (1in) deep per pot. Water and either cover with polythene or bubble plastic to retain the heat, or place pots on a heated bench or in a propagator with the temperature set at 13°C (55°F).
Remove the covers when the leaves appear. Plant seedlings outside when they are large enough to be handled and the root system is well developed. Add garden compost to the soil if it is heavy or infertile.

Direct planting:
Plant outside as early as possible to miss heavy frosts, to germinate in about 1 - 3 weeks. Sow seed 5cm (2in) deep and spaced 45cm (18in) apart in borders. Water seedlings regularly and, when growing tall forms, feed sparingly with a liquid fertiliser when 60cm (2ft) high. Avoid splashing water or fertiliser solution on the stems or leaves.
Beware of slugs when they are still young plants and birds stealing the seeds.

Cut flowers:
For continuity of blooms, sow a succession of sunflowers every fortnight for six weeks in the early part of the growing season. In a hot summer, each cycle from sowing to blooming will take about 60 days.
Pick flowers early in the day, but wait until the sun has dried the dew. Remove leaves that are low on the stem, leaving just two or three higher up, near the flower's face. Place the flowers in a bucket filled with water, and leave them to stand for several hours in a cool room before placing in a vase. Change the water every few days. Blooms can last up to a fortnight when kept in water.

Harvesting Seed:
To dry sunflower seeds, cut the heads off when they begin to yellow at the back and hang them upside down in a dry location away from rodents and birds.
Once dry, rub the seeds off and soak overnight in 4 litres 1 gal) of water with 1 cup of salt in it. Dry in a 250*F oven for 4 to 5 hours and store in an airtight container.
The black-seeded varieties are mainly for oil and birdseed. The grey and white-striped varieties are for drying and eating.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower Arranging, Flowers Borders and Beds or Wildflower Gardens, Children