The Best Sunflower Seeds for Florida

Common Sunflower

• Common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) occurs naturally throughout North America and will readily take to gardens in Florida. Floridian botanical resource Floridata recommends sowing common sunflower seeds after the last frost of the year or, in climates without frosting, at the start of the spring. Mature common sunflowers reach a height of 8 to 15 feet and bear enormous yellow flowers with a diameter of 8 to 12 inches. Common sunflowers are quickly growing annuals that can briefly survive periods of drought. They will flourish in bright natural light in moist and regularly watered soil.

Florida Sunflower

• Florida sunflower (Helianthus floridanus) is native to northeastern and central Florida. The perennial plant is much smaller than the common sunflower and reaches a mature height of only 3 to 6-1/2 feet. It bears small yellow flowers with a number of long elliptical petals from late summer through fall. Florida sunflower will flourish in open and sandy areas at low altitudes. The Florida sunflower also occurs naturally in Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and North and South Carolina.

Beach Sunflower

• Beach Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) is a species that occurs naturally on the beaches of Florida's gulf coast. The plant is versatile and can be planted in a number of soil types, from sand to acidic and calcareous dirt. The beach sunflower is drought resistant and will grow to its full mature height only in exposure to full sun. It is propagated by seeds, which are readily available in the state given the abundance of the plant. The flower is often used by gardeners for ground cover or by environmental agencies for dune stabilization. Beach sunflowers reaches a mature height of 3 to 4 feet and a mature spread of the same.

Mexican Sunflower

• Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) does not belong to the same genus (Helianthus) as other Florida sunflowers, but is a member of the Asteraceae family. The annual plant reaches its mature height of 6 feet in only six months. Mexican sunflowers are suited to growth in warm climates such as that in Florida and bear large orange-red flowers from early summer through early fall. Fine Gardening magazine recommends the flowers for cutting. The plant will flourish in dry to medium soil moisture under full sun exposure. Mexican sunflowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds and are recommended by Fine Gardening for beds and borders. Keep seeds warm before planting.