Ice Cream Sunflower is a native wildflower treasure from the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts, celebrated for its lemon-chiffon petals surrounding a warm coffee-colored center. This heirloom variety grows 5 to 7 feet tall and reaches maturity in 70 to 90 days, thriving in full sun across hardiness zones 2 through 11. What draws gardeners to this flower is its remarkable resilience: it tolerates both drought and salt spray, making it exceptional for coastal gardens and sandy soils where other plants struggle. Native pollinators flock to its blooms, turning it into a living magnet for beneficial insects.
Full Sun
Low
2-11
84in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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The lemon-chiffon petals with coffee-colored centers create a striking, almost whimsical appearance that feels tropical despite its American roots. Its dual salt and drought tolerance makes it exceptionally suited to challenging coastal and sandy conditions where few ornamentals thrive. Native to the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, this wildflower carries the genetic memory of its coastal origins, making it a conversation piece that also supports regional pollinator populations and feels like bringing home a piece of American natural heritage.
Ice Cream Sunflower is grown primarily as an ornamental flower to attract native pollinators and add color to gardens, particularly in coastal and sandy regions. Its tall stature and extended blooming period make it excellent as a background planting in borders, as a cut flower for arrangements, or as a focal point in pollinator gardens. In coastal landscapes, it functions both as decoration and ecological support, drawing native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects while requiring minimal water or soil amendment.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Expect germination in 7 to 14 days. Once seedlings develop true leaves and conditions warm, they are ready for hardening off.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off by gradually exposing plants to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space transplants 16 inches apart to allow room for mature growth to 5 to 7 feet tall.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep, spacing them 16 inches apart. Water gently to keep soil consistently moist until seedlings establish.
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“Ice Cream Sunflower traces its lineage to the native wildflowers of the Southeast and mid-Atlantic coasts of the United States, where it evolved to withstand the harsh conditions of coastal environments. Known also as beach sunflower or cucumberleaf sunflower, this heirloom has been preserved and shared among gardeners precisely because of its remarkable hardiness and ornamental charm. Its survival in seed catalogs and gardens reflects a broader effort to honor and cultivate native wildflowers that support local ecosystems while providing gardeners with plants adapted to regional growing conditions.”