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Florida Sunflowers That Bloom in May

With their large bright flowers, sunflowers (Helanthus spp.) brighten up any garden. As their name indicates, sunflowers turn toward the sun as it travels across the sky. Sunflowers generally require full sun and thrive in warm temperatures. This makes them a good match for Florida’s United States Department of Agriculture growing zones 8 through 11. Perennial sunflowers bloom year-round and although most annual sunflowers bloom in late summer or early fall, there are a few cultivars that will bright up your Florida garden as early as May.

  1. Sunny "Sonja"

    • "Sonja" (Helianthus annuus "Sonja") is one of the annual sunflowers that bloom in your Florida garden as early as May. This sunflower dislikes hot temperatures, and the flowers may fade as the temperatures rise. "Sonja" is hardy in all USDA growing zones and grows to 4 or 5 feet in height. Plant your sunflower seeds in early winter to assure May flowers. Sonja’s large flowers reach up to 12 inches across with yellow petals and a brown central disc.

    Beach-going Perennial

    • The beach sunflower (Helianthus debilis) blooms year round. This sunflower tolerates Florida’s coastline and is heat and drought resistant after it is well established. The flowers are on the smaller end of the sunflower spectrum, growing only to two inches across with the traditional brown center and yellow petals. This perennial is grown from seeds and will spread over time creating a ground cover. The beach sunflower is hardy to USDA zones 8 through 11 and will reach a height of 2 to 4 feet.

    Orange "Firecracker"

    • As it’s name suggestions, "Firecracker" (Helianthus annuus "Firecracker") is not your typical yellow sunflower. This dwarf variety boasts a bicolored flower of deep orange ringed by yellow. It also doesn’t produce pollen, making it an excellent cut flower. "Firecracker" is a dwarf variety that reaches only 3 feet tall. This plant thrives throughout Florida’s USDA growing zones 8 through 11 and blooms from late spring to fall in full sun.

    Fast Maturers for May Flowers

    • Sunflower seeds are usually planted after there is no more danger of frost. In Florida’s warm climate this is not usually a problem. To assure May bloom, choose an annual cultivar that quickly matures such as "Elite Sun" (Helianthus annuus "Elite Sun"), a sunflower with large yellow blooms that takes only 59 days to flower. The deep red "Indian Blanket" (Helianthus annuus "Indian Blanket") takes only 40 days to produce flowers. "The Joker" (Helianthus annuus "The Joker"), a stunning bicolor sunflower with rich red and yellow petals, also blooms in only 40 days after planting the seeds. These three cultivars are hardy in Florida’s USDA growing zones 8 through 11.

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Growing Annuals
  1. Wildflowers That Bloom in the Spring in Zone 5
  2. When Do Gladiolus Bloom in Florida?
  3. Types of Sunflowers That Grows Seeds
  4. Types of Perennial Sunflowers
  5. When Do Sunflower Plants Bloom?
  6. Sunflower Varieties
  7. Sunflower Varieties That Produce Black Seeds
  8. Sunflower Bouquet Ideas
  9. Flowers That Bloom Every Morning
  10. Vines That Bloom
  11. Annual Plants That Bloom All Summer
  12. Florida Flowers That Grow in the Shade

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