14 Perennial Sunflowers To Grow for Your September Garden

Perennial sunflowers can bring years of joy to your garden with their towering height and sunny blooms, which means whether you are new to gardening or a seasoned pro, following our simple guidelines will set your sunflowers up for success.

Here, we will look into the different types of perennial sunflowers, how to prepare the soil with compost, and choose the optimal site with plenty of sunlight. From there, mastering planting depth, stake installation, and care practices like watering, pruning, and division will ensure your perennial sunflowers flourish for many summers. Let’s grow some gorgeous, towering sunflowers together!

Get Your Garden Glowing With These Perennial Sunflowers

1. Lemondrop

Lemondrop produces bright yellow flowers with orange centers that measure four to six inches across. The slim stems carry three to five blooms each, rising to a height between three to five feet. The arrowhead-shaped leaves are green during the growing season and turn brilliant gold in fall.

Lemondrop thrives in full sun with wide spacing to allow maximum airflow and prevent diseases. Staking enhances the vase-like form of this variety, which typically blooms from midsummer into fall.

2. Heirloom Gold

Heirloom Gold bears cheerful yellow flowers up to eight inches in diameter. The stems can reach five to six feet tall, with multiple flowers. The lance-shaped green leaves provide an attractive backdrop for the blooms.

Best grown in full sun with good soil that drains well, Heirloom Gold prefers average to drier conditions. The growth habit is upright and sturdy, excelling as a cut flower or in the background of beds and borders. Blooms generally appear in summer and will rebloom if deadheaded regularly.

3. Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge features large red flowers up to eight inches across on long stems atop towering plants that grow four to seven feet tall. The bright red blooms stand out among the arrowhead-shaped green leaves.

Provide full sun exposure, ample water, and staking to support the long branches for maximum impact. The main flowering season occurs in late summer and continues into fall. Large red or burgundy sunflowers like Moulin Rouge make showstopping accents in borders, beds, and cutting gardens.  

4. Prairie Sun

Prairie Sun bears brilliant yellow three to four inch flowers on sturdy three to five foot tall stems. The yellow petals surround dark brown centers, attracting many beneficial insects to the garden. The narrow lance-shaped green leaves provide an airy backdrop for the profuse blooms.

This sunflower thrives in full sun and average to dry soil conditions, making it well-suited for prairie gardens, rock gardens, and sandy soils. Prairie Sun typically flowers from midsummer into fall and may rebloom sporadically if the dead blooms are removed. The compact habit and drought tolerance make this an excellent choice for pollinator gardens or xeriscaping.

5. Marmalade

Marmalade produces bright orange blooms up to eight inches in diameter. The stems can reach heights between four to six feet, bearing multiple orange blossoms. The leaves are alternately arranged with a lobed hastate shape and a deep green color. 

This sunflower benefits from staking and deadheading to prolong the blooming period, typically from late summer through fall. The bright orange is a beacon to attract butterflies and beneficial insects for pollinating companion plants in borders and cutting gardens. When grown as a single display plant, the ‘Marmalade’ pollinator magnet creates an eye-catching focal point for the landscape.

6. Coppertina

Coppertina bears large, copper-colored blooms six to nine inches in diameter. The stems can soar between six and eight feet tall, producing multiple coppery blossoms at each branching node. The lance-shaped green leaves are alternately arranged to allow ample sunlight to reach every bloom.

This sunflower benefits from deadheading and staking to support the tall stems. It typically flowers from midsummer through fall. The uniquely colored blooms make an outstanding addition to cut-flower gardens, borders, and beds. Coppery sunflowers like Coppertina attract beneficial insects to the garden to pollinate other plants while adding interest to the landscape.

7. Lemon Queen

Lemon Queen produces stunning lemon yellow flowers that measure five to seven inches across. The stems reach four to six feet tall, holding multiple yellow blooms at each node. The oblong green leaves provide an attractive backdrop for the profuse blooms. Lemon Queen performs best with average, well-drained soil in full sun. It typically flowers from midsummer into fall, producing an abundance of cheerful color.

Deadheading spent blooms promotes continued flowering and prevents reseeding. The tall stems are sturdy but can be staked for additional wind resistance. Large yellow sunflowers like ‘Lemon Queen’ make lovely vibrant accents in borders, cutting gardens, or as display plants.

8. Medallion

Medallion produces vivid yellow blooms that are six to eight inches across on sturdy, branching stems. The stems bolt upright, reaching heights between five and seven feet and bearing multiple yellow blossoms. The lance-shaped green leaves are alternately arranged to allow ample sunlight to reach every bloom.

This sunflower thrives in full sun and benefits from staking to support the tall stems and deadheading to prolong the bloom. The main flowering seasons occur in summer and fall. The brightly colored blossoms make excellent cut flowers with a long vase life and attract beneficial pollinators to the landscape. The upright habit is handsome in borders and beds as specimen plants.

9. Valentine

Valentine produces stunning deep red flowers six to nine inches across. Multiple blossoms appear at the ends of stems that can reach five to seven feet tall. The arrowhead-shaped green leaves are alternately arranged on sturdy, upright stems. This sunflower performs best in full sun and requires support from staking to keep the tall stems upright.

The main blooming period occurs in late summer and fall, attracting beneficial insects to the garden. The deep maroon color is striking against the clear autumn sky, making Valentine a dramatic focal point for beds, borders, and xeriscapes. Deadheading spent blooms can extend flowering and the flowers can rebloom if moisture is ample.

10. Gold Mine

Gold Mine bears bright yellow blossoms up to eight inches across multiple erect stems. The stems grow four to six feet tall, producing several yellow blooms. The leaves are alternate, lance-shaped, and deep green. Gold Mine thrives in full sun with average, well-drained soil. It typically blooms from midsummer through fall, providing an abundance of cheerful color. 

Deadheading spent flowers encourages additional blooms and prevents unwanted seedlings. The multiple stems add visual interest and are sturdy enough without staking. Large yellow sunflowers like Gold Mine make a striking addition to borders, cutting gardens, and backgrounds.

11. Cherry Red

Cherry Red produces deep red blossoms five to seven inches in diameter on tall branching stems. The stems grow between five to seven feet tall and support multiple blooms. The leaves are of a lanceolate shape and deep green. This sunflower thrives in full sun and benefits from staking, fertilizer, and regular watering.

It typically flowers from midsummer through fall. The deep red color attracts beneficial pollinators and acts as a beacon in the landscape, while the upright stems make an excellent accent in borders, cutting gardens, and bedding. Deadheading spent blooms promotes other blossoms and prevents the development of unwanted seedlings.

12. Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice produces fragrant vanilla-scented white flowers four to six inches across. The stems grow sturdy yet branching between three to five feet tall. White or creamy sunflowers like Vanilla Ice provide stunning visual contrast in a border, bedding, or perennial garden setting.

Staking enhances the upward growth habit of the stems for improved airflow and reduced diseases. This sunflower typically blooms from midsummer until fall. Regular deadheading of spent blossoms promotes continued flowering.

13. Sahara

Sahara produces bright golden yellow blooms that measure four to six inches across. Its stems grow tall and sturdy, reaching 3 to 5 feet and bearing multiple yellow blooms. The lobed, toothed leaves of Sahara have a hastate shape and deep green color. This sunflower variety thrives in full sun and average, well-drained soil.

The plentiful blooms appear from midsummer into fall and provide cheerful color. Deadheading spent flowers stimulates reblooming and prevents unwanted seed pods.

14. Moonfire

Moonfire produces vibrant orange blooms that measure up to eight inches across on stately stems that grow between five to seven feet tall. The leaves are lance-shaped and deep green. This sunflower thrives in full sun and prefers average, well-drained soils.

The main flowering occurs in late summer and continues into fall. The bold orange color provides bright accents when planted among stately companions like ornamental grasses and encourages beneficial pollinators. 

Conclusion 

Perennial sunflowers can bring years of beauty and interest to your garden with proper planning and care.

• Gold Mine thrives in full sun with average, well-drained soil and it typically blooms from midsummer through fall, providing an abundance of cheerful color.

• Lemon Queen produces stunning lemon yellow flowers that measure five to seven inches across. The stems reach four to six feet tall, holding multiple yellow blooms at each node.

• Marmalade produces bright orange blooms up to eight inches in diameter. The stems can reach heights between four to six feet, bearing multiple orange blossoms.

While growing perennial sunflowers may require some initial effort, following the basic guidelines we’ve covered will help ensure many seasons of success. With proper care and patience, your towering perennial sunflowers will soon become beloved mainstays of your landscape for years to come.