Sunflower Lilac Spray
Helianthus annuus
Packet: 10 seeds
Pollen-free hybrid, untreated seed
Please note - the colour is subtle and varies: The 'lilac' here is a soft, muted tint, not a strong purple. The petals are mainly lemon to cream with a lilac-to-mauve ring or blush, and how much of that tint shows varies from plant to plant and with your growing conditions, with cooler weather tending to bring it out more. Expect a range from near-lemon through to soft dusky lilac within a single packet, which is completely normal for these bred colour types.
Lilac Spray is an unusual branching sunflower for cutting, standing around 1.3 to 1.5m and carrying many blooms per plant. The petals are lemon to peach-lemon with a soft lilac-to-mauve ring toward the centre, a cool, muted colouring quite unlike a standard gold sunflower. Being pollen-free, the long-stemmed sprays cut cleanly and last well in the vase.
Sowing
Sow seeds direct about 15 to 20mm deep once the soil has warmed above 15°C, or raise in pots and plant out before the roots wind around. Germination takes 7 to 14 days. Space plants about 40 to 50cm apart to let each one branch.
When to Sow - Australian Climate Zones
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Cool & Mountain: October to December
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Temperate: September to January
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Subtropical: August to February
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Tropical: April to August (dry season)
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Arid & Semi-arid: September to December
Care
Grow in full sun in free draining soil. The tall stems appreciate staking in an exposed spot. Water deeply while the plants grow away, then ease off once established, and feed fortnightly with a seaweed solution. Pinch out the growing tip early to bring on more cutting stems, and note the soft colouring often shows best in the cooler part of the season.
Harvest
Expect the first blooms from about 60 to 72 days. Cut stems for the vase just as the petals lift away from the centre, early in the morning. Regular cutting keeps new stems coming for weeks.
