Will mammoth sunflowers come up every year?

Question

Will mammoth sunflowers come up every year?

Answer 1

As others say, sunflowers are annuals from seeds that sprout, grow and flower, then die each year.  

Depending on it's heritage, they may not come back true from seed, as many hybrid plants get specific characteristics from each of their potentially different parents.  When self-pollinated it's pot luck what genes it may carry.  Eg, it may get tallnes and vigour from one parent, and colouring from another (dwarfer) parent etc.

It's still worth saving the seeds to try it out, it's always fun to see the results and you may get better results than the original plants, especially if bees etc. bring pollen from other plants nearby.  Sow them next spring time,  potentially indoors for earlier flowers, and transplant outside when danger of frost is past.  Many birds love the seeds, as they are highly nutritious, so you could also leave some on the plants outside during the winter.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob

Answer 2

No. You will have to plant the seeds every year. They are an annual.  Just dry the seed heads from the flowers and use those to plant next spring.

I plant mammoth every year, and they always come up with the same plant, so you don't have to worry about not getting a true flower.

Answer 3

Sunflowers are annuals.  Most of the lovely big sunflowers we've come to love are hybrids, so if you plant their seeds you won't get the same plant.  You will most likely get what is called a "field sunflower," which is a lot less dramatic but no less productive of seed for birds.  The other thing about sunflowers is that their seeds contain a toxin that prevents other plants from growing where the seeds fall, so you want to cover the flowers with netting once the seeds start to ripen.  If let the seeds fall it will be difficult to grow anything else in that area for quite a while.

Answer 4

no , but save a few seeds for planting next year.