Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Also called Sunflowers
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitLeave the head on through autumn once it browns — the birds will empty it for you.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 3.25 m tall · 0.75 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- North America
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- Ragged bites and a drying slime trail on the two seed leaves within a night of the seedling breaking ground — the whole plant can go before the first true leaf opens.Slugs and snails · pest
- A water-soaked tan lesion circling the stem at soil level with white cotton-wool mould in it, days before the head wilts and folds over.Sclerotinia · disease
- A dull white dust on the upper face of the lowest leaves, working up the stem while the bud is still filling.Powdery mildew · disease