Helianthus 'Sunshine Daydream'

Helianthus 'Sunshine Daydream': Fluffy Double Sunflowers That Come Back

'Sunshine Daydream' looks like a dahlia that skipped the tuber drama and moved in for good. Fully double golden blooms on strong, tall stems, totally committed to the bit. THE DAYDREAM IS REAL. YOU CAN TOUCH IT.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Helianthus × multiflorus 'Sunshine Daydream'
• Common Name: Perennial Sunflower
• Height: 150–180 cm (5–6 ft)
• Spread: 60–120 cm (2–4 ft)
• Flowers: Fully double, golden yellow, dahlia-like blooms about 6 cm (2.5 in) across
• Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall (July to October)
• Foliage: Deep green leaves on strong, upright stems
• Features: Good cut flower, good resistance to powdery mildew

Where to Plant: Give it the back of a sunny border, a spot along a fence, or a place where you want a tall summer screen. It suits cottage gardens, cutting gardens and pollinator plantings, and a single clump reads from across the yard.

Companion Plants: Perovskia 'Blue Jean Baby' brings lavender spires from July to September, a cool partner for the yellow sunflower. Add Eryngium 'Big Blue' in the middle for spiky blue heads through summer at 70 to 75 cm. Tanacetum 'Robinson's Giant Mix' fills the front with pink painted daisies in June and July, before the sunflower begins. This sunny group runs from early summer into fall.

Plant Care: Plant in full sun, in average to moist, well-drained soil. Too much shade makes the stems lean. Water regularly through the first season and during long dry spells, especially while it's in bloom. The stems are sturdy, so staking usually isn't needed in a good sunny spot. In a windy, exposed site, a few hoops in spring are cheap insurance. Cut spent flowers for a tidier plant and more blooms. Cut the stems to the ground in late fall, or leave them for winter interest and cut them in early spring. Divide the clump every three or four years in spring if it gets crowded or the centre thins out.

History: Helianthus × multiflorus is a garden hybrid between the annual sunflower (H. annuus) and the thinleaf sunflower (H. decapetalus), giving the sunflower look on a plant that returns every year. 'Sunshine Daydream' was introduced to North American gardens by Plants Nouveau for its fully double flowers and tall, sturdy habit.

Final Thoughts: Plant it at the back, cut a bucketful for the house and still have a crowd outside. Powdery mildew can find another victim. WAKE UP, IT'S STILL BLOOMING.