Size of Sunflowers

Very Tall Sunflowers

• The larger or mammoth sunflowers grow heads up to 2 feet in diameter weighing in at up to 5 lbs. before the head dries. These massive heads need a very sturdy, almost woody stalk bearing the flower head's weight until harvest. A healthy mammoth sunflower can grow 10 feet tall. The giant Sunzilla grows as high as 17 feet. These large-headed plants are not the best for commercial farming but are good garden and landscaping specimens.

Average Height Sunflowers

• Commercially grown sunflowers need uniform height with a consistent head and seed size for harvesting equipment. The common sunflower grows to approximately 7 feet tall with a 12-inch diameter head. Black oil sunflower is popular with bird feeding enthusiasts and is a high producer of cooking oil and feed meal. Black oil seeds are not large enough for snack-food use. Snack sunflowers are made from striped sunflower seeds, which are meatier and easier to handle on an individual basis.

Small Landscaping Sunflowers

• According to the University of Minnesota, there are several dwarf varieties with a 4-inch head including Pacino, Big Smile and Music Box Mix that are suited for landscaping and cut-flower arrangements. These flowers are 2 to 4 feet tall, depending on the growing conditions and season. The smallest sunflowers will not produce edible seed, but some heads are suitable for drying and hanging for wild bird feeding.

Consideration

• Sunflowers produce a lot of pollen, which is something to consider when using them in a flower arrangement. The Moonbright, Sunbright, Sunbeam and Sunrich varieties produce less pollen and are a better choice for cut flowers.