Firecracker Sunflower
Firecracker Sunflower is a hybrid, pollenless variety that produces beautiful, bicolored blooms on compact plants. This is a semi-dwarf variety that averages 4-6′ tall, making it a great option for container or small-scale gardens. It also makes a great border plant in larger plantings.
Firecracker Sunflower is a branching variety that can produce up to 10 blooms at a time. The flowers have a dark disk and bicolored petals that have a red interior and yellow exterior. Each bloom has a long stem, making it an ideal variety for cut flower production.
Firecracker Sunflower can be direct-seeded or transplanted. Direct-seeding can be easily done with a walk-behind planter like our Hoss Garden Seeder. We recommend using a #3 seed plate and modifying the hole size to fit the variety being planted. Sunflower seed size can vary greatly from one variety to the next, therefore it’s important to always calibrate the seed plate hole size for the variety being planted. Sunflowers grow well when planted on double rows with drip irrigation. Lay one row of drip tape and plant on both sides of the tape to maximize garden space.
Sunflowers also perform well when transplanted. They grow great in our heavy-duty seed starting trays. Transplants are ready to go in the ground when plants can be easily pulled from the seed starting trays. For increased storage potential, harvest sunflowers when blooms are closed. Blooms will then open when cut and placed into a container with water.
Firecracker Sunflower Planting Information
Planting Method: transplant or direct seed
When to Plant: after last frost
Planting Depth: 1/2″
Seed Spacing: 4-6″
Row Spacing: 2-3′
Days to Maturity: 60
Disease Resistance: None
