Sunrich Orange Summer is an F1 hybrid sunflower that blooms 10 days earlier than the standard Sunrich series, reaching full flowering in just 60 to 65 days. This compact bush variety produces vibrant orange blooms on sturdy plants that thrive in full sun and require minimal water once established. Direct seed after the last frost, space plants 4 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart, and you'll have armfuls of cut flowers or a stunning garden display by midsummer.
4
Full Sun
Low To Moderate
2-11
?in H x ?in W
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High
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The real draw here is speed: this variety hits its stride nearly two weeks ahead of other Sunrich sunflowers, giving you cut flowers or garden color when you need it most in summer. The compact bush growth habit means no staking required, and the flowers are equally at home in a vase or standing proudly in the garden. Low water demands and full-sun vigor make this variety forgiving even for busy gardeners.
Sunrich Orange Summer excels as a cut flower, where its compact form, sturdy stems, and rapid bloom time make it invaluable for both home arrangements and commercial production. The variety is equally at home in garden beds and borders, where it delivers reliable color throughout the summer months.
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Sow into 72 to 50-cell flats 2 to 3 weeks prior to planting outdoors. Sunflowers dislike root disturbance, so use cell packs rather than open trays and handle seedlings gently at transplanting. This early start allows you to jump-start the first crop of blooms.
Transplant after the last frost date, spacing plants 4 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. Handle seedlings gently to minimize root shock.
Direct sow in the garden as soon as the soil warms to at least 55°F, or after the last frost date. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep. Succession-sow every 1 to 2 weeks for continuous bloom throughout the season.
For cut flowers, harvest in the morning just after the blooms open, using a clean knife. Flowers can be harvested tight when color first shows, or when almost completely open, depending on your preference and intended use. For dried flowers, allow them to fully open on the plant, then cut and hang upside down in a barn or shed. For seed heads, harvest when the bracts begin to shrivel.
Do not pinch the central stem of Sunrich Orange Summer. Pinched single-stem sunflowers will produce low-quality blooms or no blooms at all. However, cutting the mature central flower head after bloom will promote side-shoot flower production for additional smaller blooms.
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“Sunrich Orange Summer represents the modern hybrid sunflower breeding work that prioritizes early maturity and reliability for commercial cut flower production and home gardeners alike. As an F1 hybrid, it combines carefully selected parent lines to deliver consistent vigor, uniformity, and that crucial 10-day acceleration over the original Sunrich genetics. This accelerated timeline allows gardeners and growers to sequence plantings or fill gaps in the summer flower supply with predictable results.”