Helianthus annuus 'Sunny Smile'

RHS Plant Profile

sunflower 'Sunny Smile'

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Annual Biennial

A dwarf, annual sunflower up to around 60cm tall with soft green heart-shaped foliage. Bright golden yellow pollenless flowers with brown centres, smaller than other varieties, appear throughout the summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or 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): H5

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asteraceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy, 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 a moderately fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Needs a long hot summer to flower well. May need support. See staking perennials

Propagation

Propagate by seed (sown indoors) between April and May and keep in a sunny location, planting out in late spring or early summer when the risk of frost has passed. Also propagate by seed (sown outdoors) when the risk of frost has passed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Prairie planting
Wildlife gardens
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering or leave flower heads for birds and other wildlife

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews and sclerotinia diseases