The Teddy Bear Sunflower is an heirloom darling named after Theodore Roosevelt's famous stuffed companion, a fitting tribute to a bloom that seems almost too charming to be real. Standing just 4 feet tall with fully doubled, deep golden petals that create luxurious pom-pom heads, this open-pollinated annual thrives in hardiness zones 4, 10 and matures in roughly 75 days. Its fuzzy, pillow-like flowers arrive in 3- to 6-inch displays that are irresistible to children, pollinators, and anyone seeking a sunflower that breaks the mold of tall, single-faced giants.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Low To Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp60-85°F
Growth Stats
48 in
Height
—
Width
8 in
Spacing
65–75
Days to Harvest
PeriodPerennial
TypeForb/herb
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Low To Moderate
Zones
4-10
Size
48in H x ?in W
Growth
Perennial
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets Teddy Bear apart is its architectural extravagance, blooms so laden with soft, feathered petals they appear almost fuzzy and nearly infinite in number. The compact, bushy growth habit makes it genuinely practical for small gardens, containers, and patios where conventional sunflowers would tower awkwardly. Cut these glowing heads as they open and they'll shine in a bouquet for days; let them mature fully and pollinators will flock to the fully opened flowers. Few ornamental plants deliver this much personality in such a manageable footprint.
Common Uses
Teddy Bear sunflowers excel as fresh-cut flowers, harvested just as the blooms open to showcase their full doubled petals in arrangements and bouquets. Their modest height and abundant flowers make them ideal for mass plantings along garden borders, creating a dense, cheerful display. Container gardeners treasure them for patios, balconies, and small urban spaces where standard sunflowers simply won't fit. Children are naturally drawn to them, making them a perfect teaching tool for introducing young gardeners to the satisfying experience of growing their own flowers.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Mid Summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Teddy Bear sunflowers dislike root disturbance, so starting indoors requires care. Sow one seed per 6-inch pot or 3 seeds per gallon container filled with seed-starting mix 3–4 weeks before your last frost date. Maintain soil temperature around 60°F for germination. Once true leaves appear, thin to the strongest seedling per container. Transplant only when 3–4 true leaves have formed, moving the entire container contents into the garden to avoid disturbing roots.
Transplant Outdoors
Move seedlings outdoors after your last frost date once soil has warmed and they've developed 3–4 true leaves. Plant at the same depth they were growing in containers. Space plants 10 inches apart with rows 30 inches apart. They'll be ready to flower roughly 75 days from sowing.
Direct Sow
Direct sow in the garden once soil warms to at least 55–60°F, after all danger of frost has passed. Sow groups of 3–4 seeds together, pressing them 1/2 inch deep. Thin to one plant per cluster once true leaves appear, leaving the strongest seedling. This method promotes deeper root systems and sturdier stems.
Harvesting
For fresh cut flowers, harvest in the morning just after blooms open, using a clean knife. Place stems immediately in clean water with a few drops of chlorine bleach to extend vase life. For dried flowers, wait until blooms are completely open and fully mature, then cut and hang upside down in a barn or shed with good air circulation to dry completely.
Pruning
Cutting the mature central flower head once fully open will stimulate the plant to produce multiple side-shoot flowers, extending your bloom season and creating a fuller, bushier display. This cultivar responds beautifully to light deadheading as spent flowers fade.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Native Species
Scientific Classification
Helianthus ×intermedius R.W. Long
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Helianthus
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (N)
History & Origin
“The Teddy Bear Sunflower draws its name from one of history's most poignant moments: Theodore Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a restrained bear during a hunting expedition in 1902, considering it unsportsmanlike. That act of mercy inspired a toy manufacturer to create a soft, cuddly bear, a striking contrast to the danger Roosevelt had declined. This sunflower captures that same spirit of unexpected gentleness in its plush, oversized petals and diminutive stature. Named as an homage to both the President's mercy and the beloved toy that followed, it represents a sunflower bred not for agricultural utility but for pure joy.”