Teddy Bear Sunflower

lovely sunflower that doesn't block the light

I have grown these for several years. I love their compact form and fuzzy faces. they look beautiful and rustic in an old cream pitcher. I start them indoors in small pots and move them outside as the weather allows (zone 8b). This summer they did particularly well with my indifferent care.

Disappointed

These are not as fuzzy as the picture and they took a really long time to bloom. I direct sewed around Mother’s Day in zone 7a and didnt get a bloom until late July when other sunflowers in the yard have been blooming for months and are well over 8 ft tall. I do appreciate the dwarf variety in the raised bed. I was looking forward to the very fuzzy blooms and didn’t get them.