There's something magical about seeing a sunflower in full bloom towering like giants over all the other flowers in the garden. Their vibrant, golden petals never fail to bring a smile to my face. And…I am always amazed at how tall and sturdy their stalks are!

Last year, I grew a variety of sunflowers in our cut garden. Each one brought its own unique charm, and today, I'm sharing my favorite varieties with you….and don’t worry…there is still time to plant these beauties!

Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, these sunflowers are sure to brighten your day and your garden.

This quote from Helen Mirren pretty much sums up the charm of a sunflower! They trumpet life!

“I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower. That’s because of the reason behind its name. Not because it looks like the sun but because it follows the sun. During the course of the day, the head tracks the journey of the sun across the sky. A satellite dish for sunshine. Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. And that’s such an admirable thing. And such a lesson in life.” – Helen Mirren

Before I get into the details…lets take a minute to appreciate these giant wonders!

Here are my top 6 sunflower picks!

1) Procut Red FI from Harris Seeds

2) Infrared mix F1 from Harris Seeds

If you only plant one variety this is a really good mix and you will get many different blooms!

3) Goldy Double Harris Seeds and Goldy Honey Bear from Botanical Interest

Number three is a tie between Goldy Double and Goldy Honey Bear. Both varieties are showy and fuzzy and whimsical!

4) ProCut White Lite F1

Unfortunately I did not get a photo of these white sunflowers so I had to borrow some images from Harris Seeds. This variety bloomed later than the other sunflowers and the flower heads were smaller. However, they are stunning! Their soft white/yellowish color was beautiful!

Number five and six are more what I would call a “traditional sunflower.” One has a dark center and the other has a lite center. Both of these have been self propagating during the past few years. I love how they just show up in different places thanks to the birds and the wind.

5) Mammoth Grey Strip from Ed Hume Seeds

6) Tall Sunflower from Botanical Interest

These were sent to me as a gift but I believe the link above for Mammoth Sunflower is the same variety.

When they have mammoth in their name…they are serious about it!

As rouge sunflowers popped up in our cut garden this year, I transplanted them to a “mixed” sunflower section and to other areas of your yard.

We have a designated bed for sunflowers and sweet peas this year and they are both thriving.

I hope these sunflower varieties inspire you as much as they have inspired me. Happy planting, and may your garden be filled with the same joy and sunshine that sunflowers bring to our lives.