Holiday
Helianthus annuus
Photo: William P. Gottlieb · Wikimedia Commons · (Public domain)
Traditional, golden-yellow rays with dark brown disks. Bears armfuls of 3-5" blooms on 12-20" stems. Bears pollen; good for bee forage. Branching.Edible Flowers: Flower buds can be fried and the petals used as a garnish in salads and desserts; the flavor is bittersweet.
Harvest
70-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Holiday in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Holiday · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May – June | July – August | July – September | — |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | January – March | — |
| Zone 3 | April – May | June – July | June – August | — |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | June – July | — |
| Zone 5 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 6 | March – April | May – June | May – July | — |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 8 | February – March | April – May | April – June | — |
| Zone 9 | January – February | March – April | March – May | — |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | February – April | — |
Succession Planting
Direct sow Holiday every 2–3 weeks from your last frost date through early summer, stopping when you're 80 days out from your first expected fall frost — the plants need the full window to finish. In zone 7 that typically means your last direct sowing goes in around late June. Staggered sowings give you cut flowers across most of the warm season rather than one large flush you can't keep up with.
Indoor starts (February–March) can extend your season a little on the front end, but sunflowers transplant poorly if roots get bound — don't let them sit in a cell tray past 3–4 weeks. Direct sowing is cleaner and faster once soil temps hit 60°F.
Complete Growing Guide
Holiday sunflowers thrive when direct sown into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed to at least 50°F. Since this variety takes about 70 days to harvest, counting backward from your first expected frost date will help you time your planting for peak blooms during the late summer and early fall season when their golden rays are most appreciated. You can start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date if you prefer a head start, but direct sowing is simpler and often produces sturdier plants.
Prepare your soil by working in compost or well-rotted manure to create loose, nutrient-rich earth. Holiday sunflowers prefer slightly alkaline to neutral soil with good drainage. Space seeds about 6 inches apart and sow them ½ inch deep. Once seedlings emerge, thin them to 12-18 inches apart to allow adequate air circulation around the branching stems, which will support multiple flower clusters. The compact 18-30 inch height of Holiday makes it less susceptible to wind damage than taller varieties, but spacing still matters for disease prevention.
Water deeply and consistently, providing about 1-1.5 inches per week through rainfall or irrigation. Sunflowers have deep taproots that access moisture efficiently, so while they're moderately drought-tolerant, consistent moisture produces more robust branching and abundant blooms. Fertilize monthly with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer once plants are 12 inches tall. Reduce nitrogen in late summer to avoid excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowers.
Holiday's branching habit makes it particularly prone to powdery mildew, especially in humid conditions with poor air circulation. Space plants generously and water at soil level rather than overhead to minimize fungal issues. Watch for spider mites on the underside of leaves during hot, dry spells, and monitor for sunflower moth larvae in developing flower buds. These pests are attracted to this variety's pollen-bearing flowers, so regular inspection pays dividends.
The key technique gardeners often overlook with Holiday is deadheading spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering. Removing the first flowers once they fade signals the plant to produce more blooms on its side branches rather than focusing energy on seed development. This extends your harvest window for both cut flowers and edible petals well into autumn.
For succession planting, sow new seeds every two weeks through mid-summer to ensure a continuous supply of fresh flowers for cutting and culinary use. The compact branching habit means you'll enjoy armfuls of cheerful blooms from each plant, making Holiday an exceptional choice for gardeners seeking both ornamental beauty and practical edible flowers.
Harvesting
Holiday reaches harvest at 70 - 80 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 3-5" at peak. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.
Seeds are ovoid and somewhat flattened
Color: Black, Brown/Copper. Type: Achene. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall
Edibility: Seeds are used for cooking oil, livestock feed, and as a snack food or garnish. Petals are edible and young flower buds can be steamed like artichokes.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh cut flowers should be stored in a cool location away from direct sunlight and ripening fruit. Keep stems in clean, cool water (50-60°F ideally) and change water every 2-3 days for a vase life of 7-10 days. For longer preservation, dry flowers by hanging upside-down in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 2-3 weeks, which maintains their golden color and structure. Alternatively, freeze petals in ice cube trays with water for later culinary use, or press flowers between parchment paper under weight for 1-2 weeks for decorative preservation.
History & Origin
Holiday is open-pollinated, meaning seed saved from healthy plants will produce true-to-type offspring. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Western United States
Advantages
- +Traditional golden-yellow blooms with dark centers provide classic garden appeal
- +Abundant 3-5 inch flowers on 12-20 inch stems offer excellent cutting material
- +Branching habit produces multiple stems for armfuls of continuous blooms
- +Pollen-bearing flowers attract bees and support pollinator populations
- +Edible petals and flower buds provide dual-purpose ornamental and culinary use
Considerations
- -70-80 day maturity requires patience before enjoying full flowering display
- -Tall stems may require staking or support in windy garden locations
- -Susceptible to powdery mildew and fungal diseases in humid conditions
- -Heavy pollen production may trigger allergies in sensitive individuals
Companion Plants
Marigolds and nasturtiums do the most work here. French marigold varieties like 'Petite Gold' emit thiophenes from their roots that suppress root-knot nematodes, and their scent above ground confuses aphids that would otherwise build colonies on sunflower stems. Nasturtiums act as a genuine trap crop — aphids prefer them over Helianthus, so a row planted 12–18 inches out gives you an easy-to-monitor target you can yank and bag when it gets heavy. Alyssum and lobelia stay low enough that they don't compete for light, and their small open flowers draw in parasitic wasps that prey on caterpillar larvae working the bed.
Keep Holiday well clear of fennel, which releases anethole and other root exudates that suppress germination and stunt nearby plants — it'll cause problems in a mixed bed regardless of what's growing there. Black walnut is a harder problem to solve because it's usually not your choice where it grows: juglone from the roots can reach far enough to affect beds you'd never think to relocate, so if there's a walnut on the property, map its drip line before you site your sunflowers.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects like lacewings and provides ground cover
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and add colorful contrast
Petunias
Repel aphids, tomato hornworms, and other garden pests
Lobelia
Provides complementary blue colors and attracts pollinators
Dusty Miller
Provides silvery foliage contrast and deer resistance
Bacopa
Offers cascading white flowers and similar care requirements
Caladium
Provides shade tolerance and colorful foliage complement
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many flowering plants
Eucalyptus
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit nearby plant growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathic effects
Troubleshooting Holiday
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Seedling stems pinched off at soil level, plant topples over within the first 2 weeks after germination
Likely Causes
- Damping off (Pythium or Rhizoctonia spp.) — soil-borne fungi that thrive in cold, wet, poorly drained conditions
- Overwatering combined with low airflow around seedlings
What to Do
- 1.Pull affected seedlings immediately — they won't recover
- 2.Let the soil surface dry out between waterings; don't mist the stems
- 3.If starting indoors, run a small fan near seedlings for 30 minutes a day to improve airflow and surface drying
Leaves covered in a white powdery coating, usually showing up mid-to-late summer after plants hit 3–4 feet
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — a fungal disease that spreads by airspores in warm, dry weather with cool nights
- Crowded spacing below 12 inches that restricts air circulation around foliage
What to Do
- 1.Remove and trash (don't compost) the worst-affected leaves
- 2.Spray foliage with a diluted potassium bicarbonate solution per label rates — it changes surface pH and slows spread
- 3.Space plants at least 12–18 inches apart from the start; if you're already mid-season, pull every other plant to open up the canopy
Flower heads partially eaten or seeds missing before they fully mature, often with no pest visible during the day
Likely Causes
- Birds — finches and sparrows in particular will strip seed heads starting around day 70
- Gray squirrels, which will snap entire heads off or chew through the stem just below the flower
What to Do
- 1.Drape lightweight row cover or mesh netting loosely over the heads once petals start dropping
- 2.If you're growing for cut flowers rather than seed, harvest stems when the outer petals are fully open and the disk is still tight — don't wait
- 3.Reflective tape strung between stakes near the bed deters birds without much effort or expense
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Holiday flowers last in a vase?▼
Can you grow Holiday flowers in containers?▼
Is Holiday a good flower for beginners?▼
When should I plant Holiday flowers?▼
Can you eat Holiday flower petals?▼
Are Holiday flowers good for pollinators?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.