“With its branched stems just covered in pale, relatively small blooms, the heirloom 'Italian White' sunflower is something really special — both in the garden and in a vase. It puts out tons of light…”
Pinus lanceolata
'Italian White' Sunflower Offers a Twist on the Summer Classic
With its branched stems just covered in pale, relatively small blooms, the heirloom 'Italian White' sunflower is something really special — both in the garden and in a vase. It puts out tons of light yellow, four-inch-wide flowers that pollinators go crazy for in summer, and when fall rolls around, the birds get to enjoy the seeds. It's super easy to grow, making it perfect if you want something a little different from your typical deep golden sunflower.
Common name: 'Italian White'
Botanical name: Helianthus annuus 'Italian White'
Flowers: 'Italian White' sunflowers measure about 4 inches across, putting them on the smaller side for sunflowers. The petals are a very soft, pale yellow, while the center disc is brown to black. Blooms typically kick off in midsummer and keep going into autumn from seed planted in late spring — a nice long show.
Foliage: Medium green and roughly heart-shaped — classic sunflower leaves, just a bit more delicate looking.
Size and habit: This is an upright annual sunflower that puts out a whole bunch of stems. It reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 3 to 4 feet wide. The stems branch out nicely, with flowers appearing at the ends of each branch.
Growing 'Italian White' sunflower
How to grow it: Sow seeds of 'Italian White' sunflower in full sun and average, well-drained soil once any chance of frost has passed, from spring into early summer. Space the seeds 18 to 24 inches apart, putting a few seeds in each hole. Once two sets of true leaves have developed, thin them down to just one plant per spot.
Give them moderate water, keeping the soil moist — especially during germination and when the seedlings are little. As sunflowers mature, they develop a deep root system that helps them find water on their own, so they can handle short dry spells just fine. That said, for the best flowers and healthiest plants, you'll want to water during longer dry stretches. If you're cutting for bouquets, harvest the flower just as it starts to open, and strip off any leaves that would sit below the water line in the vase.
Image credit: by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
