Soraya Sunflower

seeds

0.5g: $4.65; Item: 5541-A
4g: $13.95; Item: 5541-B
16g: $36.00; Item: 5541-C
64g: $105.00; Item: 5541-D

Helianthus annuus
(80 days) Open pollinated.

Annual. The first sunflower ever to win an AAS (2000), Soraya impressed the judges with its luminescent deep orange petals, contrasting dark mahogany center disks, and sturdy branching habit. The latter accounts for its astonishing productivity, up to 25 4–6" blooms per plant, borne on stout 20" stems, perfect for cutting. Almost pollenless. Day-length neutral. 6' plant spreads 2–3'. About 35 seeds/g.

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② Family-owned companies or cooperatives, domestic and foreign

ships year-round

Quick Details

Hybrid Status: open pollinated
Days to Maturity: 80 days
Bloom Color: orange
Lifecycle: annual

Compare

Compare with other Sunflowers
Variety	Product Type	Hybrid Status	Days to Maturity	Bloom Color	Lifecycle
Autumn Beauty Mix Organic	seeds	open pollinated	70-90 days	multi-colored	annual
Evening Sun Organic	seeds	open pollinated	60-80 days	multi-colored	annual
Fantasia	seeds	F-1 hybrid		multi-colored	annual
Florenza	seeds	open pollinated		maroon with yellow	annual
Green Heart	seeds	F-1 hybrid		golden yellow	annual
The Joker	seeds	F-1 hybrid	60 days	maroon-tipped yellow	annual
Lemon Queen Organic	seeds	open pollinated		lemon yellow	annual
Mammoth Grey Stripe	seeds	open pollinated	120 days	yellow	annual
ProCut Red	seeds	F-1 hybrid	55 days	deep red	annual
Moulin Rouge	seeds	F-1 hybrid	65 days	dark red	annual
Ruby Eclipse	seeds	F-1 hybrid	55 days	lemon yellow-tipped ruby red	annual
Schnittgold	seeds	open pollinated		deep yellow	annual
Selma Suns Mix Organic	seeds	open pollinated	63 days	multi-colored	annual
Soraya	seeds	open pollinated	80 days	orange	annual
Summer Sensation	seeds	open pollinated	65 days	yellow	annual
Sunflower Sampler	seeds			multi-colored	annual
Hopi Black Dye Sunflower Organic	seeds	open pollinated	90-100 days	golden yellow	annual

Additional Information

Sunflower

Annual. Sunflower remains have been found in the Tabasco region of Mexico dating back more than 6000 years. Prized for their seeds by humans and birds, and for cutflowers by market growers, sunflowers also add a lighthearted touch to gardens. Sales soared in the spring of 2020. As our facilitator Ann says, “In hard times sunflowers make people happy.”

Culture: Easy to grow. Start indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost at temperatures of 65–75° or direct sow after frost, 3 to a pocket. Thin to best plant, 1' or more apart. Rich friable soil yields tallest plants; drought stunts growth. Will readily self-sow; for some fun leave a few volunteers in strategic locations.

Pollen or pollen-free? Although flower arrangers often eschew sunnies with pollen, Eliza Lindsay of Portland, Ore., speaks for our pollinators: “Sunflowers that produce pollen are my favorite. They feed the bees first and later the birds.” She says to grow sunflowers for cutting and to feed your pollinators, too, you must allow some of the flowers to remain uncut to complete their life cycle. Branching varieties are tops for this purpose since taking cuts encourages branching.

She offers tips for handling harvest and post-harvest for varieties with pollen. “The trick to sell them is to harvest prior to pollination. Once pollinated, flowers begin to senesce. Harvest when the petals are fully colored, clearly visible, but unexpanded and wrapped around the flower head. Harvest with long stems set in clean water in a cool dark place. Change water daily and recut stems as necessary. They will fully open in a few days, produce pollen in the vase, but have a long vase life.”

All varieties have pollen unless noted otherwise.

Flowers

All flower seeds are open-pollinated except where noted.

Days in parentheses after a variety indicate days to first bloom.

Saving Flower Seeds Is Easy!

Almost all the flowers we list are open- pollinated and easy to save seed from. Some types cross readily, but who cares! Save the seeds, plant them, and be surprised.

These flowers are especially easy to save seed from: bachelor’s buttons, calendula, cerinthe, cosmos, love-in-a- mist (nigella), nasturtium, poppy, strawflower, sunflower, sweet pea and tithonia.

Learn more about seed saving.

Germination Testing

For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.

Our Seeds are Non-GMO

All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.

Shipping

From early May through mid-December, items shipping from our garden seeds warehouse ship twice a week, usually Tuesday and Thursday. For quickest turnaround time order online by noon Monday or Wednesday.