Skyscraper Sunflower lives up to its name, reaching a towering 9 to 12 feet tall in a single season with blooms that stretch 14 inches across. These giant annual sunflowers carry deep roots in Native American agricultural history, domesticated centuries before European contact and then refined across the Atlantic for their size, oil production, and sheer garden drama. From a tiny seed to a living skyscraper in roughly 75 to 80 days, this ornamental variety produces large, edible seeds and handles heat and drought with ease. The soft yellow petals frame orange-to-green centers that draw eyes skyward.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
144in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Reaching 12 feet tall with flower heads 14 inches across, Skyscraper Sunflower delivers the kind of garden spectacle that stops visitors in their tracks. The long, strong stalks hold these giant blooms steady against the sky, and the variety's heat and drought tolerance means it thrives even when conditions get tough. Seeds are large and edible, making this both a visual centerpiece and a practical harvest.
Skyscraper Sunflower serves as a dramatic ornamental specimen in gardens and landscapes, commanding attention as a living sculpture. The large, edible seeds can be harvested, dried, and eaten raw or roasted. This is a variety grown primarily for visual impact and seed production rather than other culinary applications.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date has passed. Sow seeds at a depth of approximately one inch, placing them where they will receive full sun throughout the growing season.
Allow flower heads to mature fully on the plant; they are ready to harvest when the back of the head turns from green to brown or tan and the petals begin to dry and fade. Cut the entire flower head from the stalk using a sharp knife, leaving several inches of stem attached. Place the heads in a warm, dry location to cure for two to three weeks, allowing the seeds to finish drying. Once fully dry, rub the seed head gently to dislodge the seeds, then store in a cool, dry place.
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“Sunflowers were domesticated by Native Americans long before Columbus arrived in the Americas, though the varieties they grew were notably smaller and produced fewer seeds than modern cultivars. When sunflower seeds reached Europe in the 1500s, they captured the attention of breeders and gardeners who recognized their potential. Over centuries, European selection focused intensely on size, oilseed production, and ornamental beauty, ultimately giving rise to the giant varieties we grow today. Skyscraper Sunflower represents the culmination of this long journey, a domesticated giant that carries thousands of years of agricultural refinement in its DNA.”