Ornamental
Ring of Fire is an All America Selections award-winning sunflower that delivers exactly what its name promises, a dramatic bicolored bloom with mahogany centers and golden petals dramatically stained in scarlet, creating the illusion of flames bursting outward. These multi-branching annuals reach 48 to 60 inches tall and produce blooms 5 to 6 inches across, making them striking additions to cut-flower arrangements or the back border. Thriving in zones 4-10 with minimal water needs and full sun, they're both heirloom and easy, reaching harvest in 75 to 90 days. Their award-winning status isn't just about looks, these plants are prolific pollinators, drawing bees and other beneficial insects like nothing else in the garden.
Full Sun
Low To Moderate
4-10
60in H x ?in W
Perennial
High
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What sets Ring of Fire apart is its stunning dual-tone coloring: mahogany at the heart with scarlet-stained petals tipped in gold, creating an almost three-dimensional fiery effect. The plants naturally branch, meaning a single seed produces multiple flowering stems rather than just one central head, extending the bloom season and giving you armfuls of cut flowers from a modest footprint. This heirloom earned AAS recognition for being genuinely different, not just another tall yellow sunflower, but a distinctive garden personality that reliably stops people in their tracks.
Ring of Fire is primarily grown as an ornamental flower, prized for its dramatic appearance in cut-flower arrangements and garden displays. The blooms excel as cut flowers when harvested in the morning just after opening, and cutting the main central head actually encourages the side shoots to produce additional flowers, extending your harvest window. Beyond the vase, these sunflowers serve as powerful pollinator magnets, making them valuable for gardeners committed to supporting bee populations and beneficial insects.
Direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as soil warms to at least 55°F, typically after the last spring frost. This variety sprouts quickly—typically within 7 to 10 days—so timing isn't critical for a long indoor period. Plant directly where you want them to grow for the best root development.
For cut flowers, harvest in the morning just after the blooms open, using a clean knife and making a clean cut at the stem base. If you're harvesting seed heads, wait until the bracts (the leaf-like structures beneath the flower) begin to shrivel, then cut the entire head and hang it upside down in a barn or shed to dry completely. The mature seeds can then be rubbed from the dried heads.
No traditional pruning is needed, but the multi-branching growth habit means you can intentionally cut the main central flower head once it matures to encourage the side shoots to develop and flower, effectively creating multiple bloom cycles from a single plant. This technique is especially valuable if you're growing Ring of Fire for cut flowers, as it dramatically extends your harvest period.
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“Ring of Fire debuted as a 2001 All America Selections award-winning variety, recognized for bringing something genuinely novel to the sunflower catalog, a distinctive bicolored bloom that stood apart from the yellow monocultures. As an heirloom variety, it carries the stamp of open-pollination and the ability to save seed year after year, placing it in the lineage of sunflowers that have been grown and preserved by gardeners for generations. Its AAS award recognition positioned it as a tried-and-tested selection worthy of inclusion in serious gardening programs, and it has remained a beloved choice for those seeking both ornamental drama and reliable performance.”