Sunrich Summer Provence
Helianthus annuus
Wikimedia Commons via Common sunflower
The earliest sunflower in the Sunrich series. Sturdy plants produce upward-facing, uniform blooms that are packed with petals. Classic sunflower colors - rich orange ray petals surround a black disk. 2-3 days earlier to bloom than Sunrich Orange Summer and 1-2 weeks earlier than Sunrich Orange. 4-6" bloom size. Pollenless. Single Stem.
Harvest
60-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Sunrich Summer Provence in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 flower →Zone Map
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Sunrich Summer Provence · 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
Sunrich Summer Provence throws one flower per stem and doesn't rebloom, so if you want a steady supply for cutting, you have to stagger your sowings. In zone 7, direct sow every 14 days from April 1 through late June; with a 60–65 day run from germination to harvest and 7–10 days to sprout, you can work backwards from any target date on your calendar and land within a few days of it.
Stop sowing by early July in most climates — seeds started after that will be racing shortening daylength and cooling nights, and the heads come in noticeably smaller. If you're starting indoors in February or March for an April transplant, use individual cells or paper pots and get them in the ground before the taproot hits the bottom of the cell. Sunflowers don't handle root disturbance well, and a pot-bound transplant stalls for a week or more after going in.
Complete Growing Guide
Sunrich Summer Provence sunflowers thrive when direct sown after your last frost date, as they germinate quickly in warm soil and resent transplanting. For earliest blooms in your area, count back 60 days from your desired harvest date and sow seeds directly into the garden once soil temperatures reach at least 50°F, though 60°F or warmer produces faster germination. If you prefer a head start or live in a short-season climate, you can start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost, but transplant with extreme care to minimize root disturbance, as sunflowers are sensitive to being moved.
Space seeds 6 inches apart in rows or clusters, pushing them half an inch deep into well-draining soil. Sunrich Summer Provence's compact 18-inch average height means you can plant it more densely than taller varieties without significant competition issues. Prior to planting, amend your soil with compost to improve drainage and fertility; these flowers appreciate nutrient-rich earth but won't tolerate waterlogged conditions. Full sun is non-negotiable—at least six hours daily, ideally eight or more—to ensure those uniform, upward-facing blooms develop their rich orange ray petals and sturdy structure.
Water consistently during the first three weeks after germination to establish a strong root system, keeping soil moist but not soggy. Once plants are established, water deeply once or twice weekly depending on rainfall and heat, aiming for about one inch per week. As Sunrich Summer Provence reaches flowering stage, maintain even moisture; inconsistent watering can cause the pollenless blooms to develop unevenly. A balanced flower fertilizer applied every two to three weeks supports continuous petal development, though avoid over-nitrogen feeding, which encourages leafy growth at the expense of blooms.
Watch closely for spider mites, which particularly target sunflowers in hot, dry conditions and can damage the delicate petals before flowers fully open. Regular misting of foliage and maintaining adequate soil moisture help deter these pests. Powdery mildew can affect sunflowers in humid climates; ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering late in the day.
The single-stem growth habit of Sunrich Summer Provence eliminates the need for pruning, and the plants' natural 18-inch stature means staking is rarely necessary unless you garden in a windy location. For extended harvests of those early blooms, consider succession planting every two weeks through early summer, as each sowing will reach peak bloom within 60 days.
Many gardeners underestimate Sunrich Summer Provence's need for truly full sun and plant it in partial shade, expecting the "easy" classification to mean shade-tolerant. These sunflowers will stretch and produce weak stems and smaller, fewer blooms without adequate direct light. Give them prime garden real estate in your sunniest beds for the best results.
Harvesting
Sunrich Summer Provence reaches harvest at 60 - 65 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. Expect 4-6" 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
Sunrich Summer Provence is grown as a cut flower rather than for consumption, so storage focuses on extending vase life. Immediately after cutting, place stems in room-temperature water with cut-flower preservative (or a DIY solution: 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, and a few drops of bleach per quart of water). Refresh water every 2-3 days and re-cut stems at an angle. Keep arrangements away from direct sunlight, ripening fruit, and heat sources; cool rooms (65-70°F) extend display life to 10-14 days. For long-term preservation, dry flowers by hanging upside-down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space (barn, garage, or shed) for 2-4 weeks until petals feel papery. Dried Sunrich blooms retain color well and last indefinitely in dry conditions. Alternatively, press individual blooms between parchment paper under heavy books for a flat, preserved form suitable for crafts or pressed-flower art.
History & Origin
Sunrich Summer Provence is an F1 hybrid developed through controlled cross-pollination. Listed in the Johnny's Selected Seeds catalog.
Origin: Western United States
Advantages
- +Earliest blooming in Sunrich series enables quick succession plantings
- +Upward-facing uniform blooms simplify arrangement and visual consistency
- +Pollenless variety reduces mess indoors and extends vase life
- +Classic orange and black colors provide timeless commercial appeal
- +Relatively compact 4-6 inch size suits small arrangements well
Considerations
- -Single stem limits productivity compared to branching sunflower varieties
- -Smaller bloom size may require more plants for substantial arrangements
- -Early maturity may cause rapid senescence in warm climates
- -Limited petal count relative to some premium double-flower sunflowers
Companion Plants
Marigolds and Sweet Alyssum are the most practical companions here — both pull in parasitic wasps and hoverflies that keep Aphis helianthi from building up on sunflower stems before you even notice them. Nasturtiums work as a trap crop, drawing aphid colonies onto themselves and away from the sunflowers. Beans are a solid space-share for a different reason: their root nodules fix nitrogen at 6–12 inches down while sunflower taproots push well past that, so the two aren't drawing from the same layer.
Black Walnut is the one to avoid at all costs — juglone moves through the soil far enough to affect plants 50–60 feet from the trunk, and Helianthus annuus is documented as sensitive to it. Fennel causes problems through allelopathic root exudates that suppress germination and root development in neighboring plants, and sunflowers started near it tend to come in thin and off-pace. Neither is worth working around.
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel aphids, whiteflies, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting sunflowers
Beans
Fix nitrogen in soil and benefit from sunflower's tall structure for support
Cucumbers
Benefit from sunflower's shade and wind protection
Lettuce
Thrives in partial shade provided by sunflowers and conserves soil moisture
Zinnias
Attract pollinators and beneficial predatory insects like ladybugs
Borage
Attracts pollinators and may improve sunflower seed production
Sweet Alyssum
Attracts beneficial insects and provides ground cover to retain moisture
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produce juglone toxin which inhibits sunflower growth and development
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that stunt growth of most garden plants
Potatoes
Both are susceptible to similar fungal diseases and compete for nutrients
Pests & Disease Resistance
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, birds (seed-stage)
Diseases
Powdery mildew (in humid conditions with poor air circulation), root rot (in waterlogged soil)
Troubleshooting Sunrich Summer Provence
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Leaves covered in white powdery coating, starting on upper leaf surfaces, usually mid-season
Likely Causes
- Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) — fungal, thrives when nights are cool and days are warm with low airflow
- Crowded spacing under 12 inches that traps humidity around the foliage
What to Do
- 1.Remove the worst-affected leaves and bin them — don't compost them
- 2.Spray remaining foliage with a diluted baking soda solution (1 tablespoon per gallon of water) or a potassium bicarbonate product early in the morning
- 3.Next planting, hold to 18-inch spacing and switch to drip or base watering instead of overhead
Stem base turning dark brown and soft at soil level; plant wilts even when soil is wet
Likely Causes
- Root rot caused by Pythium or Phytophthora species — both are water mold pathogens that move fast in saturated soil
- Planting in low spots or heavy clay that holds standing water after rain
What to Do
- 1.Pull the plant — there's no saving a sunflower with crown rot once the stem has gone soft
- 2.Let the bed dry out fully before replanting, and amend with coarse perlite or compost to improve drainage
- 3.If this bed floods repeatedly, direct sow into raised rows or mounded hills instead
Distorted new growth, sticky residue on stems and leaves, small clusters of soft-bodied insects visible
Likely Causes
- Aphids (commonly Aphis helianthi, the sunflower aphid) — they colonize fast once established
- Absence of natural predators, often because nearby plants were sprayed with a broad-spectrum insecticide
What to Do
- 1.Knock them off with a firm stream of water from a hose — do this 3 mornings in a row
- 2.If that's not enough, apply insecticidal soap directly to the colonies; coat the undersides of leaves
- 3.Plant Sweet Alyssum or Nasturtiums nearby to draw in parasitic wasps and lacewings that feed on aphids
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Sunrich Summer Provence take to grow?▼
What is the difference between Sunrich Summer Provence and other Sunrich varieties?▼
Can you grow Sunrich Summer Provence in containers?▼
Is Sunrich Summer Provence good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Sunrich Summer Provence?▼
Why are the flowers on my Sunrich Summer Provence drooping?▼
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.