Gardening Ideas 11 Of Our Favorite Sunflower Varieties By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 22, 2021 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: picture alliance / Contributor / Getty Images Sunflowers are known as "happy flowers" for a good reason. Their bright blooms bring a smile to our faces and can brighten any day. We love walking through fields of blooms during the warmer months and receiving bouquets of these impressive flowers from people we love. While traditional sunflowers will always be a sight to see, there are many other varieties of blooms in the sunflower family that we love and we think you will, too. We love that sunflowers vary in height, color, and even petal shape, while all still fitting into this happy family of flowers. They're great additions to gardens and flower boxes, depending on the variety. If you're hoping to add a pop of sunshine into your garden, we're sure there is a fit for you. While there are many species of sunflowers, we've picked out our top favorites and highlighted some special characteristics that set them apart. Here are some you must try. 01 of 11 Pro Cut Red/Lemon Bicolor Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson This bloom has a burgundy center with light yellow petal tips. It is a single-stalked plant that grows 5 to 6 feet tall. It's pollenless and yields long-lasting cut flowers. 02 of 11 Pro Cut Orange Photo: Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson This variety has a brown center and yellow-orange petals. Like the Pro Cut Red/Lemon Bicolor variety, it is a single-stalked plant that grows 5 to 6 feet tall and produces pollenless, long-lasting cut flowers. 03 of 11 The Joker Photo: Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson We love the burgundy center and light yellow petal tips on this sunflower. It too is a single-stalked plant that grows 5 to 6 feet tall and produces pollenless, long-lasting cut flowers. 04 of 11 Moulin Rouge Photo: Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson This variety is our editors' favorite pick. It has gorgeous, chocolate-colored flowers that form on a branching plant with multiple blooms. It grows 4 to 5 feet tall. 05 of 11 Ring of Fire Photo: Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson This medium sized variety has a brown center and bright red-and-golden yellow petals. It is a branching plant with multiple blooms that grows 4 to 5 feet tall. 06 of 11 Maya Photo: Van Chaplin, Ralph Anderson This beautiful species has golden yellow flowers that vary slightly in shape from more common varieties. It is a branching plant with multiple blooms that grows 4 to 6 feet tall. Goldfinches love the seeds from this variety. 07 of 11 Little Becka Courtesy of burpee.com This dwarf variety produces fiery copper-red flowers. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall, clocking in at about knee-high height, which is how it earned the name "little becka." It is a branching plant where the central heads open first, then followed by the numerous branches. Visit burpee.com for more information and seed options. 08 of 11 Sundance Kid Courtesy of etsy.com These flowers have yellow petals with slight orange and red color near the center. This is a dwarf variety that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and flowers quickly. This variety flowers longer than most species, making it great for bouquets. Visit etsy.com for more information and seed options. 09 of 11 Terracotta Courtesy of swallowtailgardenseeds.com These blooms are not orange and they're not red. They're true to their name and have a clay coloring to them. This variety is a branching plant that grows 4 to 6 feet tall. The blooms are great for adding in fall color to bouquets and gardens. Visit swallowtailgardenseeds.com for more information and seed options. 10 of 11 Teddy Bear Courtesy of burpee.com These fluffy flowers are unlike many sunflowers you're used to seeing. The plant produces fuzzy blooms with small centers and grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Birds love these flowers when they're in full bloom. Visit burpee.com for more information and seed options. 11 of 11 Italian White Courtesy of burpee.com This sunflower has a subdued, creamy yellow color with a dark center. It's a branching plant that grows 5 to 6 feet tall. Visit burpee.com for more information and seed options. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit