Helianthus ‘Autumn Beauty’ is a tall, multi-headed sunflower with a gorgeous mix of warm, earthy shades — think gold, bronze, rust, burgundy, and bi-colours flowers. The large blooms (10–20 cm across) appear throughout summer and into autumn, followed by generous seed heads that are perfect for feeding birds in winter.
🌸 Flowering: July to September
📏 Height: 180-250cm
🌿Annual
SOW: start indoors in February or March in individual pots or modules, about 1cm deep, at around 20°C. Germination takes 1–2 weeks. In milder areas, you can also sow outdoors in April, either in pots or direct where they’re to flower.
GROW: harden off and plant out once frosts have passed, spacing them 40–50cm apart. Keep well watered and choose a sunny, open spot. Stake tall varieties, especially if you're using them as a screen or windbreak.
ENJOY: a fabulous cut flower — just make sure you have a big vase! Leave some seed heads to ripen for your winter birds. To dry, cut the heads when the backs begin to yellow, then hang upside down in a dry, rodent-proof spot. You can hang the whole head at your feeder or rub off the seeds to offer in small amounts. They're rich in natural oils that help birds through the colder months.
Save
