Common sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Care
full sun
low
Fast, Medium, Slow; Adaptable, tolerant of sand, loam and clay.
5–10ft tall , 2–2ft wide
Jun-Aug
Prized
Seeds eaten raw or roasted; oil extracted from seeds for cooking
Supports up to 58 butterfly and moth species in Mediterranean California
Central Valley and surrounding foothills from Kern County to Shasta County, below 3000 ft elevation in disturbed areas and grasslands.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your sunflower in full sun with well-draining soil - it's adaptable to sand, loam, or clay, so most Bay Area soils will work. Space plants with ample room to spread, since they grow 5–10 feet tall and need room to develop their stout stalks. Plant in spring for summer blooms (June–August), and ensure the soil drains fast to medium to prevent root issues.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer to establish the plant, then cut back to once a week or less once it's established. Sunflowers are an annual, so expect them to complete their lifecycle in one season - they'll flower, set seed, and die back naturally as fall arrives. The biggest mistake is overwatering after establishment; these are drought-tolerant plants, so let the soil dry out between waterings.
Endangered & Threatened Species Supported
California Species of Special Concern; monarch populations declining
Wildlife Supported
Insects
Critical fall migration nectar Aug-Oct for southbound populations
Multi-brooded species utilizing blooms throughout growing season
Birds
Important fall-winter seed source during migration and overwintering
Primary seed resource during fall migration and winter, especially Sep-Nov
Year-round seed forager in California, peaks late summer-fall
Year-round California resident; utilizes blooms seasonally
Year-round resident utilizing seeds throughout seasons
Year-round seed consumer, important dietary component
Winter seed resource for overwintering populations
Occasional visitor to California; fall migration Sept-Oct
+1 more species
Mammals
Fall seed caching; important food source for cache-building behavior