28/10/2013 - Production Report Unit 20567 -------***

Family

Asteraceae

Botanical Name

Helianthus annuus 'Pacino Cola'( PACINO SERIES)

Plant Common Name

Annual Sunflower

General Description

The dwarf sunflower, ‘Pacino Cola’, is well-branched and has a strong central stem. This Ernst Benary introduction has golden sunflowers with chocolate brown eyes. Its flowers are relatively small and borne on short stems.

The sunflower is one of the best known garden flowers. Its big bold daisies track the sun, hence the common name. This warm season annual is uncommonly easy to grow and economically important for the production of sunflower seeds, cooking oil and cutflowers. It is a New World native that exists throughout the whole of North America down to Central America. Natural populations can vary widely in height but most are tall, upright with multiple side branches that extend from a sturdy central stem.

Sunflower leaves are very distinctive. They are large, medium green and heart-shaped with a rough, slightly hairy surface. Flowering typically occurs when temperatures are warm and nights short. Mature plants produce huge daisies that come in an array of sizes and harvest colors. The fresh flowers draw lots of insect pollinators, including bees and butterflies. It is important to allow the mature flowerheads to dry because the seeds within feed wild birds and mammals.

Grow sunflowers in full sun and average soil with good drainage. It is best to directly sow the seeds in the ground in the late spring. Tall plants with few side branches may require staking—sunflowers often fall when subjected to high winds and heavy rain. After flowering and setting seed, these short-lived annuals will die. If you desire continuous summer sunflowers, plant seeds every two weeks in succession from mid-spring to early summer. These outstanding annuals make superb additions to cutting garden or vegetable plots. Children also love them because they are fun to plant and grow. Sunflower heads can also be cut with their seeds intact, dried indoors and brought outside to feed wildlife in winter.

Sunflowers emit a substance from their roots and germinating seeds that inhibits the germination of other seeds around them.

Characteristics

• AHS Heat Zone
  12 - 1
• Sunset Zone
  A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
• Plant Type
  Annual
• Sun Exposure
  Full Sun
• Height
  12"-15" / 30.5cm - 38.1cm
• Width
  8"-10" / 20.3cm - 25.4cm
• Bloom Time
  Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
• Native To
  North America, Mexico, Central America

Growing Conditions

• Soil pH
  Neutral, Alkaline
• Soil Drainage
  Well Drained
• Soil type
  Clay, Loam, Sand
• Growth Rate
  Very Fast
• Water Requirements
  Drought Tolerant, Average Water
• Habit
  Upright/Erect
• Seasonal Interest
  Summer, Fall
  
  
  Ornamental Features

• Flower Interest
  Shows
• Flower Colour
  Gold, Chocolate
• Flower Color Modifier
  Bicolor
• Fruit Colour
  Chocolate, Ivory, Black
• Fruit Colour Modifier
  Striped/Striated
• Foliage Color (Spring)
  Green
• Foliage Color (Summer)
  Green
• Foliage Color (Fall)
  Green
• Fragrant Flowers
  Yes
• Fragrant Fruit
  No
• Fragrant Foliage
  No
• Bark or Stem Fragrant
  No
• Flower Petal Number
  Single
• Repeat Bloomer
  No
• Showy Fruit
  No
• Edible Fruit
  Yes
• Showy Foliage
  No
• Foliage Texture
  Coarse
• Foliage Sheen
  Matte
• Evergreen
  No
• Showy Bark
  No

Special Characteristics

• 
  
  Usage
  Container, Cutflower, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Wildflower
• Sharp or Has Thorns
  No
• Invasive
  No
• Attracts
  Birds, Butterflies
• 
  
  Self-Sowing
  Yes