Flower library · Vase and office
Sunflower
Cut sunflowers are bred for the vase, with single large yellow heads, sturdy stems and little or no pollen. They are heavy and drink a lot of water, so they need a tall, stable vase and frequent top-ups. Kept well, they last about a week.
Helianthus annuus · Surajmukhi · Suryaphool
Season
Year round from polyhouses and open fields in different regions; best supply is usually in the cooler months.
Vase life
6–10 days in a vase
Colours
Yellow, Golden, Orange, Lemon, Rust red
Grown in
Sunflower is a major oilseed crop in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, but cut-flower varieties are a separate, much smaller crop, grown mostly in polyhouses and open fields near Pune, Bengaluru and other large city markets.
01
How to pick fresh
Family Asteraceae
- aEach stem carries one flower head 10–20 cm across, with yellow or orange petals around a dark brown or green centre, on a thick, rough, hairy stem.
- bChoose heads whose petals are just lifting away from the centre. Heads with petals still folded over the disc open reliably at home.
- cPetals should be bright and firm with no brown or papery edges, and the centre should be firm, not loose or shedding.
- dLeaves wilt before the head does, so fresh green leaves are a good sign. Many florists strip most leaves before sale.
- eThe stem should be thick and firm right up to the head. A soft neck means the head will droop soon.
02
Keeping it fresh
- Use a tall, heavy vase that will not tip over, and fill it well. Sunflowers drink a lot of water and the level drops quickly.
- Recut 3–5 cm off each stem at an angle before putting it in water, and again every two days when you change the water.
- Strip all leaves below the waterline and most of the leaves above it. The leaves draw water away from the head.
- Top up the water every day and change it fully every one to two days, as the thick stems cloud the water fast.
- Keep them out of hot sun and away from heaters. If heads droop, recut the stems and stand them in deep, cool water for a few hours.
03
Where it is used
- Sunflowers are used in home vases, often on their own, for a bright, simple arrangement.
- Offices use them in reception areas and cafeterias, where a few large heads fill a space.
- They are popular in birthday bouquets and get-well bouquets.
- Event decorators use them for daytime events, haldi ceremonies and outdoor decoration.
- The home Weekly Flower Subscription carries sunflower in rotation with gerbera and tuberose.
04
Sunflower in your city
Pune's mild weather suits cut sunflowers well; top up the water daily as they drink fast.
In Delhi's hot, dry summer sunflowers can empty a vase in a day, so check and top up water morning and evening.
Indore's dry heat makes the heads droop if water runs low; keep the vase full and in shade.
Chandigarh's cool winters give a long vase life, while in summer the water needs topping up twice a day.
Mumbai's humidity is easy on sunflower heads, but change the water daily as the thick stems cloud it quickly.
Bangalore's mild climate gives sunflowers one of their longest vase lives.
Hyderabad's dry summer heat shortens vase life; keep the vase full and away from bright windows.
Ahmedabad's summer heat wilts heads quickly, so use a large vase with plenty of cool water and keep it out of the sun.
Kolkata's humidity can make the centres mould, so keep the room airy and change the water daily.
05
Get it delivered
06
Questions
How long do cut sunflowers last?
Usually six to ten days. The main thing is keeping the vase full, since sunflowers drink far more than most cut flowers.
Why are my sunflowers drooping?
The vase has most likely run low, or the stem has been blocked by an air bubble. Recut 3–5 cm off the stem, refill the vase with cool water and remove extra leaves. Most heads lift again within a few hours.
Do cut sunflowers shed pollen?
Most sunflowers grown for the vase are pollenless varieties, so they shed little or none. Oilseed and garden types do shed pollen.
Can sunflowers go in a vase with other flowers?
Yes, but they drink a lot and cloud the water, so the vase needs more frequent changes. Use a large vase so there is enough water for all the stems.
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