Mammoth sunflowers are a classic giant heirloom variety that produce enormous single blooms 10-14 inches (sometimes up to 18 inches) across on very tall stems, with broad golden-yellow petals surrounding a large, dark brown to black center disk packed with edible seeds. The flowers have a traditional open daisy-like form and create a dramatic, towering presence in the garden from mid-summer through fall, often reaching heights of 9-12 feet or more under good conditions. These sunflowers are fantastic as cut flowers for impressive bouquets (though stems are thick and heavy), left standing to attract bees, butterflies, and birds (especially finches and other seed-eaters that love the large seed heads), or grown for their bold height and classic sunflower look in backgrounds or large borders. This variety is a strong performer in Utah because it's heat- and drought-tolerant once established, thrives in our hot, dry summers and alkaline soils with excellent drainage, and delivers reliable, massive blooms in full sun—making it a low-maintenance, high-impact annual that performs consistently in our shorter growing season when using transplants for an early start.
