Dark Sunflower Varieties That Add Drama To The Garden

It's time to think outside the box when it comes to sunflowers. The iconic yellow-petal varieties represent only a portion of the Helianthus species. With a multitude of different color sunflowers in vivid shades of orange, red, and burgundy, you're sure to find one that's just right for that special spot in the garden.

Orange Sunflowers

• Orange Sun – The fuzzy, double-petal flowers of this cultivar are an intriguing change from traditional sunflowers. Expect 6 inch (15 cm.) flowers on 6 to 8 feet (2 m.) tall plants.
• Soraya – An All American Selection winner, Soraya has golden orange petals and a chocolate brown center. This multi-branching variety reaches 4 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) tall.
• Velvet Queen – This variety produces a multitude of 6 to 8 inch (15-20 cm.) wide, dark orange sunflowers. Plants reach 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) tall. 

Red Sunflowers

• Candy Mountain – This giant hybrid produces an abundance of flowers on multi-branching stems. Petal color ranges from cherry red to burgundy with yellow tips. 
• Chianti – Gold-flecked, dark red petals dominate the flowers on this multi-branching variety. Expect a mature height of 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.).
• The Joker – An unusual hybrid bicolor sunflower with concentric rings of yellow and red petals on 6 foot tall (2 m.) plants.
• Moulin Rouge – An heirloom dark red sunflower variety with nearly black centers. The petals fade to cherry red at the tips. This branching variety of sunflower can reach 7 feet (2 m.) tall. 
• Pastiche – A variety with mixed flowers that range from buff to lighter shades of red. These multi-branching plants reach 4 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) tall.
• Ring of Fire – As the name implies, this beautiful 4 to 5 foot (1-1.5 m.) tall, bicolored sunflower has a brown center that is encircled by red petals with golden tips. 
• Strawberry Blonde – The dark centers of these sunflowers contrast nicely with the cream-tipped rosy, pink petals. The 5 to 6 inch (13-15 cm.) flowers grow on multi-branching plants which can reach 6 feet (2 m.) tall.
• Strawberry Lemonade – This multi-branching, 5 to 6 foot (1.5-2 m.) variety produces an abundance of multicolored flowers in shades of lemon, pink, and dark red. 

Burgundy and Dark Sunflowers

• Bashful – This petite 36 inch (91 cm.) tall sunflower has pastel blooms in creamy yellow with a ring of light burgundy surrounding a dark center. The 4 inch (10 cm.) pollenless blooms are the perfect size for cut flowers.
• Black Beauty – With deeply rich maroon petals, this is perhaps the darkest sunflower cultivar. Branching plants reach 4 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) tall.
• Chocolate Cherry – Multi-branching 4 to 5 foot (1-1.5 m.) stems topped with burgundy-brown petals and a chocolatey brown center gives this sunflower cultivar a stately presence in the garden. 
• Ruby Moon – This multi-branching burgundy sunflower variety grows 5 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) tall and produces an array of petal colors in various hues of ruby, maroon, and red. Petals can be solid or tipped in creamy white.