The ‘Strawberry Blond’ sunflower offers a distinctive and appealing option for gardeners. Its growing popularity stems from its unusual coloration, which deviates significantly from the typical bright yellow associated with sunflowers. Cultivating this variety can be a rewarding experience, bringing an unexpected splash of color to garden beds and floral arrangements. This guide will help you understand and nurture these plants.
What Makes ‘Strawberry Blond’ Unique?
The ‘Strawberry Blond’ sunflower stands out primarily due to its striking and unconventional color palette. Unlike the classic golden-yellow varieties, this cultivar showcases petals in soft shades of pink, rose, and burgundy, often blended with creamy tips and a dark, contrasting center. This unique blend creates a sophisticated and artistic appearance, making it a focal point in any garden. The petals can exhibit a gradient of these colors, providing visual depth and interest.
This sunflower typically grows 5 to 7 feet tall and tends to develop multiple branches. This branching habit allows for a continuous display of blooms over a longer period, as new flowers emerge from side shoots. Its moderate size and prolific flowering make it an excellent choice for both garden beds and for cutting.
Planting Your ‘Strawberry Blond’ Sunflowers
Planting ‘Strawberry Blond’ sunflowers begins with proper site selection. These sun-loving plants thrive in locations that receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. Well-draining soil is also important, as soggy conditions can lead to root issues.
Prepare the planting area by loosening the soil to a depth of 12 to 18 inches, incorporating organic matter like compost to improve fertility and drainage. Sow ‘Strawberry Blond’ sunflower seeds directly into the garden bed after all danger of frost has passed, typically in late spring or early summer. Plant seeds one inch deep and space them six to twelve inches apart. After sowing, water thoroughly to settle the soil and initiate germination.
Ongoing Care for Vibrant ‘Strawberry Blond’ Blooms
Once seedlings emerge, thin them to their final spacing of 12 to 18 inches apart. This provides adequate room for stronger stems and larger blooms. Weeding regularly around the base of the plants helps reduce competition for nutrients and water.
Sunflowers benefit from consistent moisture, especially during periods of active growth and flowering. Water deeply and regularly, particularly during dry spells, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A balanced, all-purpose fertilizer can be applied if your soil is poor, following package instructions. For taller varieties or in windy locations, providing support with stakes can prevent stems from bending or breaking. Monitor plants for common garden pests, such as aphids, and address them promptly.
Enjoying and Harvesting ‘Strawberry Blond’ Sunflowers
For fresh floral arrangements, harvest stems when the flower heads have fully opened but before the center disc begins to shed pollen. Cut stems in the early morning after the dew has dried for the longest vase life. Use sharp pruners and immediately place the cut stems into water.
To harvest seeds, allow the flower heads to mature fully on the plant. This typically occurs when the back of the flower head turns yellow, begins to droop, and the petals dry and fall off. To protect the developing seeds from birds, cover the maturing heads with a paper bag or fine mesh netting. Once completely dry, cut the heads and gently rub the seeds from the disc for storage. These sunflowers also dry beautifully, retaining much of their color for lasting enjoyment.