Helianthus debilis 'Soluna Bronze'
sunflower 'Soluna Bronze'
- Position: Full sun
- Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Fast
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: Hardy annual
Get ready for a blazing display of sultry colour with this eye-catching annual sunflower that ignites the summer garden with shades of burnished copper and bronze, each centred by a dark eye for bold contrast. With its prolific blooms held high on tall branching stems, 'Soluna Bronze' makes a gorgeous cut flower or border accent. The deep green foliage offers a perfect complement to showcase the metallic flower hues, and for maximum impact in bouquets and beds alike, plant en masse to allow the smouldering blooms to play off one another.
Whilst easy to grow, annual sunflowers in exposed situations may require staking or support. Water deeply but infrequently and feed sparingly to avoid prompting leaf growth over flowers. If you wish to harvest the seed, protect the flower head with garden fleece to deter squirrels and birds, or cut the head and dry indoors.
Under glass, start them off in late winter by planting the seeds up to 5cm deep in deep pots or root trainers filled with good seed compost. When large enough to handle, plant outside in spring after gradually hardening off. Alternatively, sow directly into a well-prepared seed bed in spring and thin to 30cm as they grow. If sowing outside, temporarily cover the bed with a net to protect the seeds from birds, and keep an eye out for slugs and snails when the seedlings emerge.
- Sow: February to June
- Flowering: June to September