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
Focal point
Pollinator
Edible
Light
Full sun
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
18-120" tall · 24" apart
Lifecycle
True annual (one season)
AHS heat range
6-11
Plant range authored in AHS heat-zone terms.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Heat and sun protection
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Seed starting
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Transplanting and establishment
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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.
Cold hardiness
Future
This plant is grown as an annual; hardiness zones don't apply.
Heat tolerance
Future
Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.
Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...
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 14, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/helianthus-annuus
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited - 18 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