You want sunflower seeds that actually grow. Not stale packets with no germination, not hybrid seeds you can't save. At KVITER you can buy sunflower seeds for planting which are open-pollinated, non-GMO, and tested before it reaches the catalog.
All KVITER sunflower seeds for sale ship open-pollinated, non-GMO, and germination-tested. Save seed from any variety and it grows true next season.
Sunflower Seeds for Planting
We offer sunflower seed packet:
- Chocolate Cherry Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) seeds
- Mammoth Grey Stripe Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- All Sorts Mix Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Autumn Beauty Mix Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Teddy Bear Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Dwarf Sunspot Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Lemon Queen Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Italian White Sunflower (Helianthus debilis) seeds
- Velvet Queen Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
- Skyscraper Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds
Find the right variety
Best for sheer height: Skyscraper reaches 10 to 12 feet on a single stem. One massive head, traditional yellow, the kind of plant that makes people slow down. Plant it where it won't shade out everything behind it. KVITER ships 100 seeds per packet, enough for a staggered planting across three weeks.
Mammoth Grey Stripe goes just as tall with a wider head — up to 18 inches across. It's the standard for seed-harvesting. Meaty grey-striped seeds are good for roasting, and the plants are more forgiving of soil variation than Skyscraper. Buy this one in bulk if you're planting a field row or a food plot.
Best for cutting gardens: Velvet Queen is deep burgundy-red, pollenless, and holds its petals longer than almost anything else in this price range. Cut it just before full open. Chocolate Cherry runs a similar color — closer to mahogany, slightly smaller, with better branching that keeps producing long stems well into September.
If you want pale colors, Lemon Queen is the answer. Butter-yellow fading nearly to cream at the edges, dark chocolate center. It pulls more native bees per square foot than anything else in the KVITER catalog — not a marketing claim, just what you'll notice when it's blooming.
Best for small spaces: Teddy Bear is a 24-inch dwarf with fully double, almost pompom blooms. It's a children's garden staple for a reason. Dwarf Sunspot runs similar height with single traditional blooms — less novelty, longer vase life. Both handle 10-gallon containers without complaint, as long as drainage is good.
Best for pollinators and late season: Italian White blooms later than most varieties, extending forage into early fall. Pair it with Mexican Sunflower and you've got pollinator garden from July through October without doing anything complicated.
When to plant — USDA zone guide
In Zones 3–4, the last frost typically falls between May 15 and 31. Direct sow outdoors from June 1 to 10, and expect first blooms in late August.
In Zones 5–6, the last frost typically falls between April 15 and 30. Direct sow outdoors from May 1 to 15, and expect first blooms in mid-July.
In Zones 7–8, the last frost typically falls between March 15 and 31. Direct sow outdoors from April 1 to 15, and expect first blooms in late June.
In Zones 9–10, the last frost typically falls between February 15 and March 1. Direct sow outdoors from March 1 to 15, and expect first blooms in late May.
Soil temperature matters more than the date on the calendar. Don't sow until the top two inches of soil is at least 55°F. Flower seeds rot in cold, wet ground instead of germinating.
Succession plant every two to three weeks from your last frost date through midsummer. One sowing gives you two weeks of color. Five or six gives you a full season.
FAQ
What are the best sunflower seeds to buy for growing?
Depends what you're growing for. For height and seed harvest — Mammoth Grey Stripe, for cut flowers — Velvet Queen or Chocolate Cherry. For pollinators — Lemon Queen or Italian White. For small gardens and containers — Teddy Bear or Dwarf Sunspot.
How many seeds come in a KVITER packet?
It varies. Mammoth Grey Stripe and All Sorts Mix ship 500–525 seeds. Mid-range varieties like Lemon Queen, Italian White, and Dwarf Sunspot ship 150–300. Specialty types — Chocolate Cherry, Teddy Bear, Velvet Queen — run 75–100 seeds.
Can I buy sunflower seeds in bulk?
Yes. Mammoth Grey Stripe is the most practical bulk option — 500 seeds per packet, suited for large plantings, food plots, or bird feeding gardens.
Are these seeds treated or coated?
No. Raw, untreated, open-pollinated seed only. Nothing on the hull.
Can I save seeds from these plants?
All varieties here are open-pollinated, so the saved seed grows true. The only real consideration: if multiple varieties bloom within 500 feet of each other, cross-pollination can happen. Grow one variety per season if seed-saving is the goal.
Do sunflowers come back every year?
Most don't. Everything in this catalog except Lemon Queen is a true annual — it grows, blooms, sets seed, and dies in one season. Lemon Queen can overwinter in zones 4 and up if the crown stays undisturbed.
