9 border sunflowers
Helianthus annuus ‘Valentine’ AGM
Grown at Christopher Lloyd’s Great Dixter, this primrose-coloured annual injects light into the border. Grow in rich, well-drained soil in sun, in the middle or at the back of the border. H: 5ft (1.5m).
H. ‘Monarch’ AGM
A cheering perennial sunflower with large, bold-yellow semi-double blooms that have slightly pointy petals, glorious in August and September. Grow at the back of a sun-drenched border, in welldrained, retentive soil. H: 5ft (1.5m).
H. annuus ‘Velvet Queen’
A sophisticated annual that forbids ridicule from sunflower haters, its bronze-red blooms add the rich hues of sunset. Site at the back of a sunny border, in humus-rich, well-drained soil. H: 5ft (1.5m).
H. debilis ‘Vanilla Ice’
This annual produces lots of gorgeous, small, yellow-cream flowers, from July to October. Good for cutting. Place in the middle or at the back of a sunny border, in moist, well-drained soil. H: 4ft (1.2m).
H. ‘Capenoch Star’ AGM
This has anemone-like golden flowers and is a perennial sunflower that thrives in the late-summer borders at Great Dixter. Place at the back of a sunny border, in humus-rich, well-drained soil. H: 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m)
H. ‘Ruby Eclipse’
A delightful and reliable annual sunflower with a ring of dusky pink-red and buff-cream tips. Very good for cutting. Place at the back of a sunny border, in humus-rich well-drained soil. H: 6ft (1.8m).
H. ‘Lemon Queen’ AGM
A fantastic perennial with small, paleyellow daisies, often for three months. Site this at the back of a sunny border in neutral to alkaline soil that is humus-rich, moist and well-drained. H: 6ft (1.8m).
H. ‘Soleil d’Or’
This perennial sunflower produces blazing rich-gold double blooms that almost resemble dahlias, in late summer and early autumn. Grow at the back of a sun-drenched border, in well-drained, retentive soil. H: 5ft (1.5m).
H. annuus ‘Earthwalker’
The flowers of this stylish, tall, annual sunflower have wonderful terracotta, golden and brown tones around a darkchocolate centre. Grow at the back of a sunny border, in humus-rich, welldrained soil. H: 6-10ft (1.8-3m).