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Common sunflower
Habit (mature) · Jim Evans / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
A fast annual for sunny edible, pollinator, and children-friendly beds with bold summer flowers and seedheads.
Native: 40 US states + 4 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Focal point
Pollinator
Edible
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
18-120" tall · 24" apart
Lifecycle
True annual (one season)
Summer heat range
Warm-Hot
warm to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Fertility and feeding
Compost, balanced fertilizer, slow-release plant food, and organic amendments.
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Native across 44 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
This plant is grown as an annual; hardiness zones don't apply.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/common-sunflower
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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