Helianthus Velvet Queen

Helianthus Velvet Queen brings rich, dramatic colour to any garden. The dark centres are framed by copper-bronze petals with glints of orange and gold, creating a truly opulent display. These striking blooms sit on branching plants that sway beautifully in the breeze and make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers. Bees and other pollinators love the nectar, and once the flowers fade, finches and other birds flock to the seed heads for autumn and winter feeding. It’s a superb choice for wildlife-friendly borders, cutting gardens or anywhere you want a touch of warmth and splendour.
🌸 Flowering: July to September
📏 Height: to 170cm
🌿Annual
SOW: start indoors in February or March in individual pots or modules, about 1cm deep, at around 20°C. Germination usually 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, however they can also do fine in light shade. You may need to stake taller varieties like Velvet Queen, especially if you're using them as a screen or windbreak.
ENJOY: fabulous dark blooms are stunning in the garden and much loved by pollinators. Cut flowers last beautifully in a vase, and the seed heads provide food for birds through autumn and winter. If you can bring yourself to pick unopened flower buds, they can even be cooked and eaten like globe artichokes… though I’d rather leave them to bloom and enjoy their beauty!