Sunflower Varieties in Texas

Sunflowers Found Only in Texas

• Although sunflowers are native to the plains of the central United States, a couple of varieties are found only in Texas. The cucumberleaf or forest sunflower (Helianthus debilis silvestris) can get to about 4 feet tall and bears small, single, yellow flowers. They are found in eastern Texas, which falls almost exclusively in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 8b. The Texas sunflower (Helianthus praecox) grows in the southernmost area of Texas in USDA zones 9a through 9b. It reaches about 3 feet in height an bears small, single, yellow flowers.

Other Native Sunflowers

• There are a large number of sunflowers that are native to Texas and other states as well. Some of the more common species are annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus), Maximilian sunflower and Texas blueweed (Helianthus ciliaris). Annual sunflowers, hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, bear small, single, yellow flowers and can get to 9 feet tall. Maximilian sunflowers, hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, gets to about 8 feet tall and produces multiple single, yellow flowers. The Texas blueweed, hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, has blue-green foliage and yellow flowers with reflexed petals. In some states, this plant is a noxious weed; check local ordinances before planting.

Sunflower Crops

• Sunflower crops are on the increase in Texas, especially in the northern counties. They are grown mostly for the seeds and oils, but also for forage and as a fuel source. Most home gardeners grow sunflowers for seed, but some enterprising gardeners may extract oils as well. The sunflowers grown commercially for oil and seed are agricultural selections of the annual sunflower native to Texas and as such share the same hardiness zones 3 through 10. For home gardeners with livestock, these sunflowers may also be grown for forage.

Decorative Sunflowers

• The number of varieties available to the home gardener for decorative purposes is nearly endless. Some notable varieties with yellow flowers include "Zohar" (Helianthus "Zohar") or "Brilliance" (Helianthus "Brilliance"), which both get to about 3 to 6 feet tall and produce flowers 4 to 6 inches across, making them suitable for cut flowers. Other interesting varieties include "Chocolate" (Helianthus "Chocolate") which bears reddish-brown flowers reminiscent of chocolate, reaching about 5 feet tall with 4- to 6-inch flowers, and "Teddy Bear" (Helianthus "Teddy Bear") an unusual double-flowered type with no visible center disc. It only gets to about 16 inches tall. Many other colors are available. All are varieties of Helianthus annuus, hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10.