Read practical advice
Explore straightforward guides for choosing, using and caring for garden products.
Visit the Advice CentreOutdoor plants
Product information
Everything useful in one place, with the most important information kept separate from the buying controls above.
About this product
Helianthus annuus 'Sunsation' – Compact Sunflower
Helianthus annuus 'Sunsation'
Plant Highlights: Large golden-yellow sunflower blooms • Compact, well-branched habit • Long flowering season • Ideal for containers and sunny borders • Attractive to bees and other pollinating insects
Overview
Helianthus annuus 'Sunsation' is a compact annual sunflower bred to produce an abundance of large golden-yellow flowers with dark central discs over a long summer flowering season. Unlike traditional tall sunflowers, this naturally branching variety remains neat and bushy, making it an excellent choice for patio containers, mixed borders and smaller gardens.
Its cheerful blooms provide bold seasonal colour from summer into early autumn while also supplying nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinating insects. Whether planted individually in decorative pots or grouped through sunny borders, 'Sunsation' offers reliable, easy-to-grow summer interest.
Why We Love It
- Produces impressive sunflower blooms on a compact, manageable plant.
- Naturally branching habit creates many flowers over the season.
- Ideal for containers where traditional sunflowers would be too tall.
- Bright flowers bring vibrant colour to sunny gardens.
- Attractive to bees and other beneficial pollinating insects.
Plant Details
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Helianthus annuus 'Sunsation' |
| Common Name | Compact Sunflower |
| Plant Type | Annual |
| Flowers | Golden-yellow petals with a dark central disc |
| Flowering Season | Summer into early autumn |
| Growth Habit | Compact, bushy and well-branched |
| Position | Full sun |
| Soil | Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil |
| Mature Height | Approximately 30–50 cm |
| Mature Spread | Approximately 30–40 cm |
| Hardiness | Tender annual. Not frost hardy and grown as a seasonal plant in Irish gardens. |
Growing Guide
Position
Plant in a warm, sunny position where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. A sheltered site helps protect the flower stems from strong winds.
Watering
Keep the soil or compost evenly moist throughout the growing season, particularly in containers, which dry out more quickly in warm weather. Water thoroughly whenever the surface of the compost begins to dry.
Soil
Grow in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter to support healthy growth and prolonged flowering.
Hardiness and Seasonal Care
'Sunsation' is a tender annual and will not survive frost. Plant outdoors after the risk of frost has passed and enjoy throughout the growing season. Plants naturally complete their life cycle by the end of the season and should be composted once flowering has finished.
Routine Care
Remove spent flowers regularly to keep plants looking tidy and encourage further blooms. Feed container-grown plants with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the flowering season to maintain vigorous growth.
Perfect For
- Sunny borders
- Patio pots and containers
- Courtyard gardens
- Summer bedding displays
- Cut flower gardens
Good to Know
As an annual sunflower, 'Sunsation' is grown for one growing season rather than returning each year. Its compact size makes it particularly well suited to containers, balconies and smaller gardens where traditional sunflowers would become too large.
Product Information
- Supplied as an established plant
- Compact annual sunflower
- Golden-yellow flowers with dark centres
- Suitable for borders and containers
- Best grown in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil
- Any supplied pot size or plant height refers to the plant at the time of sale and not its mature size
Growing & care
- Plant type
- perennial
- Position & light
- Full sun· Sheltered
- Watering
- moderate
- Soil & drainage
- Well drained· Moist
- Mature size
- 50cm high· 40cm wide
- Flowering
- Summer into early autumn· Yellow
Useful to know
Good for containersGood for bordersPollinator friendly
Choose with confidence
Find the right plant for your space
Use the Plant Finder, practical advice or our in-store team before deciding.
See it before choosing
Visit Easy Garden to compare products in person and speak with our team.
Plan your visit