COLORS OF FALL:

Autumn Beaty Sunflowers bloom in sunset colors

September 27, 2019

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY PIXABAY.COM

The Evening Sun Fall Sunflower variety produces large flowers in shades of orange, red, and burgundy with a dark center.  Multiple heads and an extended bloom period make this a great variety for cutting.  This half-hardy annual can bloom up to 75 days but will need protection from frost.

By the time late August rolls around, I am so ready for that first cool front. I can almost smell the leaves on the ground. We used to create piles that we would jump into. I was nostalgic for my bedroom in Pennsylvania perched on a hill where I could view the splash of autumnal color in the rolling hills of Mt. Lebanon. That view never got old.

Nowadays, late August to mid-September is when the stores start having displays of pumpkins, yellow, red and orange leaves, mums and snapdragons. Another flower to consider is the Autumn Beauty Sunflower or Helianthus annuus.

A little history of the sunflower

The ordinary sunflower has had a circuitous history beginning with the Native Americans as early as 3,000 B.C. as discovered by archeologists. They used it as a dye, for body decorations and a medicinal remedy for snake bites.

It traveled to Europe by way of the Spanish explorers in the 1500s. In the early 19th century, Russia began the commercialization of sunflower oil. It came back to North America possibly by Russian immigrants in the 1880s. Participating in the first production of sunflower seeds into oil was the Missouri Sunflowers Association in 1926.

Appearance

When I was asked to write an article about the Autumn Beauty, I was surprised to find the assortment of colors of sunflowers.

The Autumn Beauty sunflower is not your traditional bright yellow sunflower. I think of watching a pretty sunset when I think of the colors of the Autumn Beauty. It displays the colors of rust, burgundy, bronze as well as the typical yellow of a sunflower. These colors appear all at the same time in bi-color even tri-color blooms. This variety of sunflowers is about 6 to 8 inches across and can reach a height of 5 feet.

Growing conditions

This easy-to-grow annual grows in USDA Zones 1-10 in well-drained soil.

• Tolerates drought; prefers sun; open pollination

It can tolerate drought conditions, making it a great plant for South Texas summers. It needs to be planted in a sunny area. It is open pollinated, which means it is pollinated by birds, bees, the wind or human hand.

• Affected by frost

This plant is considered half hardy because frost will affect it. If frost is predicted, these Autumn Beauty sunflowers will need to be protected.

Growing from seed

Autumn Beauty is easily grown from seed.

• Indoors

The seed can be planted indoors in a container and coated with a light dusting of soil about three to four weeks before planting outdoors. It will need to be watered daily helping the seeds to germinate. The tiny plants can be transplanted outside when it is at least 55 degrees and all danger of frost has passed.

• Outdoors

You can also start the sunflower seeds in the garden between the months of mid-April to May. If you decide to sow your seeds in the garden, the biggest problem may be squirrels coming and making a snack of them. You can alleviate this problem by starting them inside and transplanting as small shoots.

The gardener must sow to a depth of .49 inches and cover lightly with soil with a spacing of 4½ inches between each seed. This light dusting of soil may be a deterrent for the small snacking animals. Then water the newly planted seeds daily, thus ensuring germination.

Known pest

The army worm is a pest for this particular plant. The best treatment is to handpick them from the plant and dispose of them or use Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt dust, a natural microbial pesticide.

Uses of Autumn Beauty

• Flower bed

Due to the height of this particular sunflower they make an excellent background flower or an eye-catching point in the middle of a round flower bed. They remain blooming for a long time making them an asset to your garden.

• Floral arrangement

If you want to use them in a flower arrangement, cut the fresh flowers just as they are beginning to open. They can make a lovely addition to an arrangement.

Beginnings of radiant fall sunset

Sunflower seeds bring back the memory of my youngest daughter, Jill, and her friend Leslie taking the remainder of their sunflower seed snack and sowing it directly into the garden. Besides watering, that was the only care these plants were given by the then eight year olds. You can’t get much easier than that to add a pop of color to your yard.

And who knows? They can maybe become the beginning hues of a radiant fall sunset right outside your window.

The Gardeners’ Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension – Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at VictoriaAdvocate.com.