Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Herbaceous Perennial

Helianthus 'Bitter Chocolate'

sunflower 'Bitter Chocolate'

A clump-forming perennial to around 2m high, with narrow, linear green leaves. Bright yellow, slightly chocolate-scented flowers with small, dark brown centres are produced in late summer and early autumn

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
2 suppliers

Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Helianthus can be tall, erect annuals, tuberous or rhizomatous perennials, with coarse simple leaves and large daisy-like flower-heads
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Sunflowers generally need a long hot summer to flower well. May need support, see staking: perennials. Mulch annually with compost or manure, and divide every 3-4 years to maintain vigour

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division. Divide established clumps every 2-4 years to both increase plants and retain vigour. See sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and sclerotinia diseases

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.