Sunflower
Seed # 115
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 115
- Seed Name
- Sunflower
- Variety
- Black Beauty
- Category
- Flower
- Plant Family
- Asteraceae
- Plant Type
- Branching pollenless sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- Planting Method
- Direct Sow
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- May 6
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jul 20
- Plantable Months
- May, June, July
- Indoor Start
- Not recorded
- Direct Sow
- May 6 – Jul 20
- Transplant
- Not Recommended
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- Not Recommended
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- Not Recommended
- Germination Days
- 7–14 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- 50–55 days to bloom
- Succession Planting
- 14 days
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 60-75°F
- Planting Depth
- 1/2-1 in
- Plant Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Row Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- 12-18 in
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- About 1 in/week during establishment and active flowering; established plants tolerate moderate dry periods
- Soil Preference
- Fertile, well-drained soil
- Minimum Container Size
- 10 gal
- Plant Height
- 4-6 ft
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Annual
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- No
- Frost Tolerant
- No
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- Yes
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Cut Flower PollinatorCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cantaloupe | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Corn | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Corn | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Cucumber | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Pumpkin | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Squash | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Watermelon | Good Companion | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Direct sow
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 10 – Jul 10
Days to Harvest / Bloom: 60–100 days to bloom
Container Friendly: Dwarf yes; giants need ground/large pots
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Seeds useful; pollinator support
Succession / Reusable Notes: Succession sow for blooms. Tall types need wind protection.
Zone 6B Notes: Direct sow after frost.
Companion Plants: Cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons, corn, pollinator flowers, clover
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Potatoes; may shade small crops
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Direct sow after the May 5 frost date. Its relatively early 50-55 day bloom time allows several succession sowings during the Zone 6B summer.
Germination: Use standard sunflower culture: sow shallowly in warmed soil and maintain consistent moisture until emergence.
Harvest: Harvest branching stems when the deep-maroon flowers begin opening. The pollenless blooms are particularly useful for bouquets.
Seed Saving: Black Beauty is a pollenless bred sunflower. Seed production and true-to-type seed saving are unreliable without compatible pollen-producing sunflowers and controlled breeding.
Special Care: Black Beauty was bred for exceptionally dark, nearly black-maroon flowers. It is uniformly branching and pollenless.
Research Source: Sunflower Selections — https://www.sunflowerselections.com/product/black-beauty/ — breeder-verified Black Beauty identity, branching habit, pollenless flowers, 50-55 day maturity, 4-6 foot height and bouquet use
Research Source: University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/gardening-minnesota/sunflowers — species-level sunflower sowing, germination, soil and water requirements
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]