FlowerSunflower
Lemon Queen Sunflower
Pale Sunflower
Lemon Queen is a stunning heirloom sunflower celebrated for its bright, lemony-yellow petals and chocolate-brown center that commands attention both in the garden and as a cut flower. These tall annual plants, reaching 5 to 7 feet, produce abundant blooms across a long season from summer through fall, typically maturing in 90 to 100 days from seed. Thriving in zones 1 through 10 and attracting pollinators with irresistible vigor, this multi-branching variety serves double duty as an ornamental showstopper and a pollinator magnet that transforms any sunny space.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/sunflower-seeds-lemon-queen-organic)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
1-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Moderately Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp60-85°F
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
7 in
Width
PeriodAnnual
TypeTall
Spacing
12-18 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
1-10
Size
84in H x 7in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Picture a tall, single-stem sunflower with clusters of brilliant lemony blooms and light brown centers that bees cannot resist. Lemon Queen distinguishes itself as a prolific multi-branching variety, producing 3 to 5 inch flowers that far exceed what you'd expect from a single plant. The combination of its heirloom status, ease of growth in nearly every American hardiness zone, and proven appeal to pollinators makes it a go-to choice for gardeners seeking reliable, showstopping color without fuss.
Common Uses
Lemon Queen sunflowers excel as ornamental cut flowers, bringing luminous color to summer bouquets and arrangements. Their abundant blooms and extended flowering season from June through November make them a reliable choice for gardeners seeking continuous garden color, while their strong appeal to bees and other pollinators positions them as an essential plant for supporting local pollinator populations.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Late Spring
First Harvest
Mid Summer
Last Harvest
Late Summer
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date in biodegradable pots, as sunflowers are sensitive to root disturbance; sowing in pots that can be planted directly eliminates transplant shock.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors 2 to 4 weeks before your average last frost date, planting the entire biodegradable pot directly into the ground to minimize root disruption.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after your average last frost date. Sow at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch and expect sprouts in 5 to 14 days. Soil temperature should be between 50 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Drought TolerantAttracts PollinatorsNative Species
Soil pH Range
6 – 7.5
Bloom Time
Summer To Fall
Scientific Classification
Helianthus ×orgyaloides Cockerell (pro sp.)
Family
Asteraceae
Genus
Helianthus
Duration
Perennial
Growth Habit
Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (N)
History & Origin
“Lemon Queen has a fascinating origin story rooted in North American wildflowers. The variety was cultivated from wild sunflower species native to North America, then commercialized in Russia, where it developed into the refined heirloom we grow today. This transatlantic journey transformed a wild plant into a garden staple, preserving the vigor and pollinator appeal of its ancestors while developing the consistent, brilliant lemon-yellow color that makes it unmistakable in bloom.”