FlowerSunflower
Pradera Gold Sunflower
Pradera Gold Sunflower is a robust annual that commands attention with its luminous golden blooms held on sturdy, upright stems reaching 60-72 inches tall. This open-pollinated variety produces an abundance of flowers, with each plant generating 12-14 stems that bloom from mid to late summer and persist for up to 8 weeks, making it exceptional for both landscape drama and cut flower arrangements. Hardy across zones 2-11 and ready to harvest in 70-79 days, it thrives in full sun and attracts pollinators reliably throughout the season.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
72 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
12
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
72in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
Pradera Gold's real strength lies in its multi-stem productivity; three plants per square meter are sufficient to sustain bee activity for weeks and supply abundant cut flowers throughout summer. The golden blooms emerge in mid-summer and hold their color and form for up to eight weeks, creating a prolonged display that few sunflower varieties can match. It's certified organic and non-GMO, bringing clean genetics and pollinator-friendly vigor to any garden.
Common Uses
Pradera Gold excels as a cut flower, with those abundant 12-14 stems per plant providing fresh bouquets throughout the season. Its pollinator-attracting properties make it invaluable in gardens where you want to support bee populations and other beneficial insects. Landscape gardeners use it to create focal points and seasonal color in beds and borders.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Plant seeds in full-sun locations where they'll remain undisturbed.
Harvesting
Cut flowers when the outer petals have just opened but before the center disk fully matures; this timing ensures the longest vase life. Harvest in early morning when stems are fully hydrated. Cut at least 12-18 inches of stem, removing lower leaves before placing in water. With 12-14 stems per plant and blooms lasting up to eight weeks, you'll have continuous harvests from mid to late summer.
Pruning
No pruning is necessary for Pradera Gold's upright growth habit. If you're growing it for cut flowers, harvesting the flower stems as they open will naturally encourage branching and additional blooms from lower nodes, extending your harvest period throughout summer.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Scientific Classification
Helianthus annuus
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Helianthus
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (N)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (I)SPM (I)