ANNUAL SUNFLOWERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20708, 4 May 1929, Page 7

ANNUAL SUNFLOWERS.

Many will immediately say that the sunflower is too coarse a plant to grow, but we (Amateur Gardening) are strongly of opinion that they are very useful for garden display, and certainly for cutting. If well grown they flower with great profusion, and well-selected varities give a fine show. Nothing need be said about the culture of these hardly annuals, for they are easy to raise and to grow. Seeds may be sown in spring in the frame in the open; the plants must be given room to but the soil needs no special preparation.

There are large-flowered and smallflowered sunflowers, the former attaining heights of from 6ft to 10ft, the latter being only some 3ft. Bronze King is a fine new large sort, the blossoms being a delightful bronze self. The red sunflower, so much boomed for years, is not so good as this, but it is a striking flower in its way—if not really a red. Primrose is fine, the petals being a clear pale yellow, the centre dark brown, almost black. Langley Gem is a blend of red and yellow, with a pleasing tint. The older doubles are rather out of favour; they lack the lightness and attractiveness of singles. fetellata Bed is one of the prettiest of the small sorts, a hybrid from the older Stella and Primrose Stella, all of which may be grown with every satisfaction. Apollo, yellow and maroon, and Diadem, yellow and dark brown, are also good, and not too tall. - Orion is a new thing—to use at least; its flowers arc somewhat like the cactus dahlia, with twisted outer ray florets. In addition to those, there are the Dwarf Compacta and Dwarf Miniatures, winch seldom exceed a foot in height excellent alike for the border and °for pots.