FAST FACTS

Genus: Helianthus
Species: debilis
Variety: 'Italian White'
Bloom Start To End: Early Summer - Late Summer
Plant Height: 5 ft - 7 ft
Plant Width: 9 in - 12 in
Bloom Size: 4 in
Additional Characteristics: Bird Lovers, Direct Sow, Flower
Bloom Color: White
Light Requirements: Full Sun
Moisture Requirements: Dry
Resistance: Drought Tolerant, Heat Tolerant
Soil Tolerance: Normal,  loamy
Uses: Cut Flowers, Ornamental, Outdoor
An old favorite that combines the big bloom size of Giant Sunflowers with the well-branched, floriferous habit of smaller daisy-formed varieties, 'Italian White' is an elegant look for the garden or vase! The blooms are 4 inches across, with a deep chocolate eye, slightly ruffled white petals, and a ring of primrose between the two. These very sturdy, well-branched 5- to 7-foot plants produce an incredible number of blooms over a very long season, giving you enough to fill every vase in the house without robbing the garden of fresh, gleaming color. The long stems make these great flowers for cutting, and they are exceptionally tolerant of dry soils.

The plants are a good size for the back of the border, as well as next to outbuildings and even as stand-alone temporary screens or hedges!

Sunflowers are the kings of the natural sunny summer garden, attracting butterflies and birds. They're wonderfully easy to grow -- just direct-sow the large seeds after all danger of frost. Not picky about soil type, they need direct sun. Thin the plants to 2 to 4 feet apart so that they can show off their foliage a bit as they grow.

Planting Instructions

How to Sow Helianthus:
Can be sown indoors at 68-86° (will germinate over a wide temperature range)
Sow 2-3 weeks before planting out
Expect germination in 5-10 days
They can be sown outdoors after last frost, but remember: they are a favorite food of birds and rodents and may be eaten by them
When sowing seed outdoors, we recommend a maximum planting depth of 4X the width of the seed