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Annual · Asteraceae family

Common sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Full sun 0.45–3.1 m × 0.45–0.9 m Flowers July–August Harvest August–September Low maintenance
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
Size0.45–3.1 m
spacing 45 cm
FlowersJuly–August
Care levelLow maintenance

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in dry to average soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

tolerates any pH
acidicneutralalkaline
dry to averageloamyclaysandy

Watering

Common sunflower — Watering
only in dry spellsdrought tolerant once establishedless when it rains

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m0.45–3.1 mspread 0.45–0.9 m
0.45–3.1 m× spread 0.45–0.9 m

Plant 45 cm apart.

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberSowing: JanuarySowing: FebruarySowing: MarchSowing: AprilSowing: MaySowing: JuneSowing: JulySowing: AugustSowing: SeptemberSowing: OctoberSowing: NovemberSowing: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberHarvest: JanuaryHarvest: FebruaryHarvest: MarchHarvest: AprilHarvest: MayHarvest: JuneHarvest: JulyHarvest: AugustHarvest: SeptemberHarvest: OctoberHarvest: NovemberHarvest: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersSowingFeedingHarvest
Now, in October: nothing to do — the next job is in May.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July–August · yellow, red or brown

Sowing

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

direct sowing: May

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–May

Harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

August–September

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 90 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · April–May

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

High riskMedium riskLow riskRisk for this plant according to the source · no label = no documented level
Sclerotinia disease

Sclerotinia disease

High riskdiseasesource covers the whole genus

What you will see

Plants turn yellow, wilt and fall over. At ground level the stem has a soft, watery rot, white cottony mould and later hard black sclerotia (also inside the hollow stem).

The source says: it is a major problem in sunflower growing.

When to look

Summer and early autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Do not plant too densely: the fungus spreads more easily among densely growing plants.
    • Sclerotia survive in the soil for years and infections are more common in damp weather.
  2. By hand as soon as it is foundRemove affected plants as soon as possible and destroy them; do not put them in the compost, as home compost may not kill sclerotia.
Sclerotinia diseasedisease · summer and early autumnHigh risk

What you will see

Plants turn yellow, wilt and fall over. At ground level the stem has a soft, watery rot, white cottony mould and later hard black sclerotia (also inside the hollow stem).

The source says: it is a major problem in sunflower growing.

When to look

Summer and early autumn

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Do not plant too densely: the fungus spreads more easily among densely growing plants.
    • Sclerotia survive in the soil for years and infections are more common in damp weather.
  2. By hand as soon as it is foundRemove affected plants as soon as possible and destroy them; do not put them in the compost, as home compost may not kill sclerotia.

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
Slugs and snailspest

What you will see

Irregular holes in leaves and slime trails, especially on young plants in damp weather.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants.
  2. By handEvening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).
  3. Biological moist, warm soilPhasmarhabditis hermaphrodita nematodes watered into the soil.
More about this problem

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
Powdery mildewsdisease · from spring onwards

What you will see

White powdery coating on leaves, stems and flowers; leaves may become distorted.

When to look

From spring onwards

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew).
  2. By hand autumnPrune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.
More about this problem
Sunflower downy mildew

Sunflower downy mildew

Plasmopara halstedii
disease

What you will see

Young plants are infected through the roots; they survive stunted, with yellow, crinkled leaves, and in cool, damp weather a white cottony coating on the underside of leaves. Losses can reach 50–95% in cool, damp years.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant resistant varieties where available (the most effective measure, but new races of the pathogen keep appearing).
    • The pathogen survives in soil for up to 10 years (oospores); infection is a risk in cold, waterlogged soil.
  2. By hand continuouslyRemove wild and self-seeded sunflowers, which host the pathogen.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps before sowingSeed treatment with a product authorised in your country against sunflower downy mildew (spraying leaves is not effective, the disease is systemic).
Sunflower downy mildewdisease

What you will see

Young plants are infected through the roots; they survive stunted, with yellow, crinkled leaves, and in cool, damp weather a white cottony coating on the underside of leaves. Losses can reach 50–95% in cool, damp years.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Plant resistant varieties where available (the most effective measure, but new races of the pathogen keep appearing).
    • The pathogen survives in soil for up to 10 years (oospores); infection is a risk in cold, waterlogged soil.
  2. By hand continuouslyRemove wild and self-seeded sunflowers, which host the pathogen.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helps before sowingSeed treatment with a product authorised in your country against sunflower downy mildew (spraying leaves is not effective, the disease is systemic).
Sunflower rust

Sunflower rust

disease

What you will see

Rust-coloured spots/pustules on leaves.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy plant debris in autumn; plant with spacing for airflow.
  2. By handClear plant debris in autumn and plant thinly; fungicides are usually not needed.
Sunflower rustdisease

What you will see

Rust-coloured spots/pustules on leaves.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Destroy plant debris in autumn; plant with spacing for airflow.
  2. By handClear plant debris in autumn and plant thinly; fungicides are usually not needed.
Sources (6)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does common sunflower flower?

In July–August; the flowers are yellow, red or brown.

When do I sow common sunflower?

In May (direct sowing).

When is common sunflower harvested?

In August–September.

Does common sunflower tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does common sunflower need?

At maturity 0.45–0.9 m wide and 0.45–3.1 m tall; recommended spacing 45 cm.

Slugs and snails — what can you do?

Changing growing practices is the best strategy; protect young plants. Evening collection by torchlight in damp weather; barriers (copper tape, wool pellets).

Powdery mildews — what can you do?

Destroy fallen infected leaves in autumn; do not over-feed, and protect from drought (stress invites powdery mildew). Prune out infected shoots early and destroy fallen leaves.

Sources (21) Checked 24 October 2026

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