Multicolored Sunflower: The Colorful Sunflower Species

The Multicolored Sunflower is a very famous variety among ornamental sunflowers. It is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Asteraceae family and Sunflower genus, typically growing about 1.5 meters high, and the entire plant is covered with stiff hairs.

It is a summer-blooming plant, flowering from June to September. The plant stands erect with large, vibrant head inflorescences. The disk diameter is approximately 10 cm.

The ray flowers are yellow with large patches of red, brown, or purple in the center, giving a distinct advantage in creating a sea of flowers.

I. Basic Information

Scientific name: Helianthus annuus

Family: Asteraceae

Other names: Sunflower

Origin: North America

Uses: Cut flowers, potted plants

Characteristics: It’s an annual herb, fond of warmth or high temperatures, robust and requires no special care. It is highly fertile and can grow in any soil. Dense planting is required for cut flower cultivation, and it comes in a variety of colors. It is relatively drought-resistant.

II. Cultivation Method

Multicolored Sunflowers prefer warm, humid, and sunny environments, are slightly shade-tolerant, dislike dampness, and are not cold-tolerant. They are not strict about soil requirements for ground planting and grow better in fertile, deep soil.

For pot planting, a mixture of fertile garden soil and one-third of sandy soil is suitable, mixed with a small amount of decomposed livestock and poultry manure as base fertilizer. Apply thin, decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound fertilizer every ten days.

Nitrogen fertilizer should be the main fertilizer during the seedling stage to promote lush foliage. After budding, more phosphorus and potassium should be applied to provide sufficient nutrition for robust bud growth and facilitate flowering.

If the soil is fertile, ground-planted plants do not need to be fertilized. During cultivation, if small flower buds sometimes grow in the leaf axils in the middle and upper parts of the plant, they should be removed promptly to avoid dispersing nutrients and affecting the growth of the main flower.

Germination Suitable Temperature: 22-30°C

Sowing Period: All year round (minimum temperature should be above 8°C)

Growth Suitable Temperature: 15-35°C

Flowering Period: About 60-80 days after sowing

Seedling Raising: The seeds are sown to a depth of about 1 cm and will sprout in 5-7 days. They can be transplanted when the seedling has 4-6 leaves. Seeds can also be directly sown in pots. One plant can be grown in each 7-inch pot. Cover the soil until the seeds are not visible and water thoroughly.

Planting: The soil for cultivation should ideally be fertile sandy loam or loam, with good drainage and adequate sunlight. Insufficient sunlight will hinder flowering. It is not suitable to plant in low-lying areas.

After the plant has established, top dressing can be applied. Any of the three elements or various organic fertilizers are ideal. Soil should be hilled up around the base of the plant to strengthen it and prevent it from falling over.

After the flower buds are formed, water should be applied more frequently to keep the soil moist.

III. Value and Other

Also known as “Colored Sunflower,” the Multicolored Sunflower is a colorful variety among ornamental sunflowers. It is a summer-blooming plant with an erect plant shape, large and vibrant head inflorescence, giving a distinct advantage in creating a sea of flowers.

Propagation of the Multicolored Sunflower can be done by sowing seeds in the spring and summer. Flowers will appear 30 to 40 days after sowing, and the sowing period can be determined according to the viewing time.

The Multicolored Sunflower has a moderate plant shape and bright flower colors. The flowers are bright and splendid, suitable for ground planting in front of windows, by walls, and beside fences in small courtyards.

It can also be potted on balconies, in well-lit living rooms, bedrooms, etc. Due to its robust and straight flower stem and long flowering period, it can also be used as a cut flower.