Chocolate cherry sunflowers are stunning and incredibly easy to grow in many areas. These beautiful burgundy flowers will turn heads and attract essential pollinators to your flower bed and garden.
This article introduces you to this gorgeous sunflower and how you can grow them yourself. Plus, discover creative and easy ways to use the seed-packed flower heads after they bloom.
What is the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower?
Does the thought of sunflowers conjure the image of golden petals surrounding seed-laden fluffy brown centers?
Most sunflower varieties range in color from pale yellow to deep gold. This article highlights one of a few types of sunflowers with red petals.
If you want head-turners in your garden, look no further than the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower. This might be the most breathtakingly beautiful sunflower you can grow.
Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers are deep crimson to charcoal black, while the base of each petal tends to show traditional sunflower-yellow coloring. This leads to a stunning golden halo around the dark flower center.
How to Grow Sunflowers in Your Garden
Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers thrive in USDA hardiness zones 3-11. That means you can successfully grow these gorgeous flowers pretty much anywhere!
This branching sunflower variety can grow to nearly seven feet tall. Each flower blooms continuously for four weeks, after which the plant generally seeds and then dies.
Chocolate Cherry’s are excellent for vases and bouquets due to their low pollen production.
To get a longer cut life, harvest mature sunflower heads just before they bloom. They will continue blooming when you place the cut stem in water.
Chocolate Cherry’s are heavy feeders that require a lot of space to flourish. These beauties are not suitable for containers and might struggle in smaller gardens.
Despite being heavy feeders, sunflowers only require moderate water and sun and don’t typically need fertilizer. Fertilizer is only necessary if you sow sunflower seeds in poor-quality, barren soil.
Sunflowers attract pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects. If you are building a butterfly garden, then the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower will be a star among winged visitors.
Creative Ways to Use Mature Sunflower Heads
Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers are annual flowers. Once they finish blooming, they will go to seed and die off.
Don’t throw away mature sunflower heads! They are packed full of nutritious seeds that you can use in the kitchen.
If you want to roast and salt sunflower seeds, you need to grow Giant Sunflowers. This variety is perfect for eating and is popular among backyard gardeners.
All other types of sunflowers produce edible seeds, but they are not as plump or flavorful as Giant Sunflowers. You can still use these little seeds in the kitchen with the right tools.
A simple oil press enables you to extract cooking oil from sunflower seeds. Chocolate Sunflowers produce black sunflower seed oil, which tastes great and has numerous health benefits.
All you need to press fresh sunflower oil is a manual oil press and a candle. An expeller is an affordable and easy-to-use option for this purpose.
If you have the budget, you might opt for an electric oil press to simplify this process even further. Electric expellers can even offer intelligent temperature control to protect the oil’s flavor.
Sunflower oil is fantastic for baking and frying up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Chocolate Cherry Sunflower oil is a rich source of Vitamin E and healthy monounsaturated fats.
FAQ
How tall do Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers grow?
This variety is a branching type of sunflower that grows six to seven feet tall. You can pinch blooms to promote branching and robust and healthy stem development.
These plants require a lot of space to grow tall and healthy. Large sunflowers like these don’t do well in pots, so ensure you have plenty of garden space available.
How long does it take for Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers to bloom?
These eye-catching sunflowers can take over three months to bloom. Once they mature, the flowers bloom continuously for four weeks.
Here’s a more detailed look at the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower’s time to maturity:
- 75-90 days when transplanted in early spring
- 90-110 days when planted in early summer
How do you care for a Chocolate Cherry Sunflower?
Sunflower plants are simple to take care of. This makes them an excellent choice for beginner gardeners.
In most areas, you can sow sunflower seeds outdoors and water them when the soil surface feels dry. Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers are heat-tolerant and have moderate watering needs.
Most sunflowers are heavy feeders that need ample space. They are reasonably hardy, so you won’t need to add extra fertilizer unless your local soil is of inferior quality.
Where to Buy Chocolate Cherry Sunflower Seeds
Online nurseries make ordering your favorite flowers fast and easy. You won’t have to drive all over town looking for a store that carries specialty sunflower seeds.
Hoss Tools is an American-owned company that sells Chocolate Cherry Sunflower seeds. You can trust these seeds will germinate and grow into dazzling dark sunflowers.
Do you want to try growing a few different unique sunflower types? Order the Cog Hill Farm Sunflower Collection, and you will receive these sunflower seeds:
- Chocolate Cherry
- Sungold Dwarf
- White Nite
- White Lite
- ProCut Plum
- ProCut Lemon
Your Guide to Chocolate Cherry Sunflowers
Do you want exotic-looking flowers that are easy to grow? If so, the Chocolate Cherry Sunflower is the perfect pick for you.
After reading this article, you probably want to learn more about growing sunflowers. Check out our dedicated Sunflowers page to discover everything you need to know about these beautiful (and delicious) flowers.
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Max Loel is a seasoned writer with a unique life journey that spans across diverse landscapes.
Beyond the realm of words, Max has carved out a different kind of haven—a 15-acre homestead in the Midwest. This sanctum represents their testament to resilience and commitment to sustainable living.
With a penchant for storytelling that reflects personal growth and cultural exploration, Max brings a fresh perspective to the literary world, blending the experiences of a global wanderer with the grounded roots of a Midwest homesteader.