Sunflower (helianthus)

No one in their right mind would sow the usual tall sunflowers now, they just won’t flower soon enough. But I sowed the 30cm (1ft) ‘Choco Sun’ seeds this time last year and enjoyed a brilliant late display.

And they don’t just produce one stumpy little stem with a flower perched on the top. No, the stems branch naturally, giving a number of bright, dark-eyed flowers with a more natural look. l

As autumn approaches, you’ll often find that growth slows down while at the same time flower production increases as plants try to ensure that they set seeds before growth stops altogether in the cold weather Aim for high summer success by sowing now

Summer isn't summer without sunflowers!