Sunflower ‘Arikara’

photo: Wall Flower Studio

A REAL American heirloom! Large flowers & edible seeds are reason enough to grow this beautiful Sunflower, but it has a rich history as well. ‘Arikara’ is named for the Arikara people, an agricultural Native American tribe that inhabited the Great Plains for hundreds of years & this Sunflower is part of their cultural heritage. Like many heirlooms, ‘Arikara’ is a variable strain, so if you plant a few, don’t expect a cookie-cutter line of sameness! Flower color ranges from yellow to orange, with brown or yellow centers & some plants are multi-headed. Plants are TALL & range from 10-12’ in height & 2-3’ wide. Sunflowers are highly attractive to bees & birds. Late in the season you will need to guard the seed heads if you want a taste!

Claire Woods
Propagator