(Helianthus annuus)Heirloom Lemon Queen is particularly attractive to pollinating bees and is often planted by researchers tracking honeybee populations. These free flowering sunflowers have branching clusters of 4-6 inch flowers with pure lemon-yellow pointed petals and chocolate centers. Plants grow 5-9 feet tall and mature early.
Pollinators of all sorts are drawn to Lemon Queen’s nectar and pollen, the blossoms make a lovely cut flower for bouquets, and birds love the ripened seeds in fall.
Summer/fall bloomFrost tender
Plant in full sun in good garden soil only when weather is warm and settled, all danger of frost is past and both days and nights are evenly in the 50°F (10°C) range. Poke individual seeds into well-worked soil about 1/2 in. deep, 4 to 5 in. apart. Press the soil firmly over the seeds and keep the seedbed evenly moist until seedlings emerge in 8 to 10 days.
Important: when the seedlings are well-established, carefully thin them to a final spacing of 1 foot apart; this way they will have enough room to develop sturdy stalks that won’t blow over and big clusters of flowers. Any extra seedlings you remove can be transplanted elsewhere in the garden or potted up and given to friends.
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