Best dwarf sunflowers: 5 varieties for pots and small spaces

For many of us, sunflowers are a rite of passage into gardening. I expect you might recall growing lofty sunflowers at school or with a family member, hopefully with some success, at least in memory. By summer, sunflowers can reach remarkable heights of 10, 12, or even 20 feet tall. Impressive, certainly, but not exactly suited to small yards.

Fortunately for us, many compact dwarf sunflowers provide bold color and cheerful blooms, but are much smaller in terms of height. This means that even if you only have a tiny terrace or narrow balcony, you can still have a go at growing these iconic summer flowers without any worry about space.

As a professional gardener, I have grown sunflowers nearly every summer for as long as I can recall. While I love the traditional golden types, one of my all-time favorites is the dwarf ‘Italian White’. It grows to around four feet and has pale, white-green petals that, in my opinion, are a little more elegant than the usual bright yellow blooms. Whatever your preference, here are five of the best dwarf sunflower varieties to grow in pots and small gardens this year.

5 of the best dwarf sunflowers

In terms of how to grow sunflowers, these infamous plants are both high-impact and low-effort, thriving in a variety of situations, including yards with poor soil.

If you are growing perennial species that you want to return the following year, remember to pick varieties best suited to your US hardiness zone. However, for many gardeners, sunflowers are treated as fast-growing flowering annuals that will only last a single growing season.

Here are five of my favorite dwarf sunflowers to try your hand at this year.

1. Italian white

Sunflower 'Italian White', with pale yellow blooms during summer

(Image credit: Getty Images/Ewa Saks)

If you want something a little different from the classic bright yellow, ‘Italian White’ is the perfect choice.

I have grown this perennial variety both in the UK and in Tuscany, and it is best treated as a half-hardy option that can be grown down to zone 8, tolerating some frost, but it will not be resilient to months of snow and ice. Of course, in cooler regions, you could grow it as an annual.

The pale, creamy white flowers are understated, but still make an impact, I think, working well with darker shades, including maroon poppies or pink roses.

‘Italian white’ sunflowers can reach four or five feet, so they’re not the tiniest, but grown in a decent-sized pot (at least 16 inches wide), they’ll thrive.

You can either start the seeds in a greenhouse a few weeks before the last frost, or wait until April or May, and sow directly into pots or borders where they are to grow.

The germination to flower rate is usually around 70 to 90 days, so if you get them sown in May, you can expect flowers from August, lasting long into the fall.

‘Italian White’ seeds are available from the Seeds Needs Store, ordered via Amazon.

2. Tiger eye

Yellow 'Tiger Eye' sunflowers with red markings, in a summer garden border

(Image credit: Alamy/Zuma Press )

‘Tiger Eye’ is another good option if you are seeking small garden ideas. The flowers have bright yellow petals with some red flecking, plus a really dark center that makes them pop.

This variety will only grow to two or three feet, so it is perfect for smaller containers or a few clumps grouped together in a narrow border. And, like all sunflowers, they love full sun and decent drainage.

Sow straight into pots or in the ground from late spring, anytime from April onwards. One thing I like about ‘Tiger Eye’ is they’re robust and wind-resistant nature, so even in an open spot, such as on balconies, they hold their own without snapping.

‘Tiger Eye’ seeds are available to order from Burpee.

3. Teddy bear

Sunflower Teddy Bear

(Image credit: Getty Images/ Alex Mander)

As you can see from the image above, ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflowers are real showstoppers, with pompom-like yellow blooms that are similar in appearance to some double marigolds and calendulas.

Dwarf ‘Teddy Bear’ sunflower seeds are available to order via Amazon.

Ideal flowers for pots in full sun, this variety grows no taller than three feet, ideal for smaller container displays on terraces or patios.

Sow ‘Teddy Bear’ spring and keep them well watered. Once they start blooming, they’ll keep going into fall, sometimes lasting as late as November.

To keep sunflowers blooming, remember that regular deadheading is important. Be sure to use clean, sharp tools, such as these highly rated Felco pruners, available from Walmart.

4. Sunny bunch

Burpee Sunflower, Sunny Bunch

(Image credit: Burpee)

‘Sunny Bunch’ is another dwarf flower to plant in May. As you might infer from the name, each clump tends to produce bunches of blooms, so it is an ideal choice if you are planning a cut flower garden and want to snip a few stems every week for vases in the home.

This variety will grow to about three feet, needing a medium-to-large-sized container positioned in full sun.

As you can see from the image, ‘Sunny Bunch’ looks good on its own, or you can try pairing it with other tall perennial flowers, like verbena, for a yellow-purple contrast.

After your seeds have germinated, keep the soil evenly moist but not overly wet. Once the plants have grown and are established, they can tolerate some drought, but remember that pots tend to dry out very quickly in summer.

To help reduce watering requirements, complete some mulching using an organic mix to help the plants retain moisture when the temperatures soar. Even an inch or two will help.

‘Sunny Bunch’ dwarf sunflower seeds are available online at Burpee.

5. Sunray yellow

Burpee dwarf sunflowers 'Sunray', growing in pots

(Image credit: Burpee)

‘Sunray Yellow’ are perfect if you want to grow sunflowers in pots, as you get masses of bright, golden-yellow blooms. Reaching no more than two or three feet, these easy-to-grow annuals are a good pick for gardeners with smaller plots.

Sow ‘Sunray Yellow’ directly into the border or containers during either April or May, once the risk of frost has passed. You should see seedlings after about 14 days. Thin seedlings to give at least 10 inches or so of room for the plant to grow.

You can expect flowers from July through September, during which time, these plants for pollinators will be humming and buzzing with insects and birds.

‘Sunray yellow’ sunflower seeds can be ordered now from Burpee.

FAQs

Should I fertilize sunflowers growing in pots?

Sunflowers are known to be greedy plants, so it is a good idea to keep pot-grown specimens fed during the growing season. Feed once every fortnight with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer during spring, before switching to a high-potash fertilizer, such as a tomato or bloom booster feed, when your sunflowers begin to open. Try something like this organic bloom booster fertilizer, available from Walmart, to encourage as many sunflower blooms as possible this year.

Don’t forget to leave a few sunflower stems to go to seed as summer comes to an end. While this will keep the birds happy during fall, it is also a good idea to learn how to harvest sunflower seeds for yourself, to keep a few aside to plant again next year. Our guide has all the information you need.

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