Helianthus annuus

Pollinator Sunflowers

Heirloom Lemon Queen is particularly attractive to pollinating bees and is often planted by researchers tracking honeybee populations. These free flowering sunflowers have branching clusters of 4-6 inch flowers with pure lemon-yellow pointed petals and chocolate centers. Plants grow 5-9 feet tall and mature early.

Pollinators of all sorts are drawn to Lemon Queens nectar and pollen, the blossoms make a lovely cut flower for bouquets, and birds love the ripened seeds in fall.

Seed Count: Approx. 33-37 / Weight: 1.6 g

ANNUAL

Summer/fall bloom
Frost tender

EASIEST TO DIRECTLY PLANT OUTDOORS

Plant in full sun in good garden soil only when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50F (10C) range. Poke individual seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 in. deep, 4 to 5 in. apart. Press the soil firmly over the seeds and keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.

Important: when the seedlings are well-established, carefully thin them to a final spacing of 1 foot apart; this way they will have enough room to develop sturdy stalks that wont blow over and big clusters of flowers. Any extra seedlings you remove can be transplanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up and given to friends.

GROWING NOTES

Growing these colorful sunflowers for pollinators and bouquets is both easy and rewarding. Make several sowings several weeks apart and youll have a succession of flowers in full bloom. Keep soil moist and well weeded and protect very young seedlings from birds with bird netting held tautly above the seedbed with supports, or use plastic berry baskets, removing baskets before plants get crowded.