Grow golden blooms and feed your feathered friends!
Black Oil sunflowers are a garden favorite for good reason, they’re tall, cheerful, and bursting with bright yellow petals. But the real magic is in the seeds: rich in oil and loved by birds, pollinators, and even home cooks. Whether you're growing for wildlife or harvesting for yourself, this sunflower brings beauty and bounty to your backyard.
Variety: Black Oil Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Growth Habit: Warm-season annual
Height: 5–6 feet
Color: Bright yellow petals with black seed centers
Planting Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil
Bloom Time: 60–70 days
Uses: Birdseed, edible seed harvest, pollinator gardens
Fun Fact: Black Oil sunflower seeds are the top choice for birdseed thanks to their high oil content and thin shells, easy for birds to crack!
If you love watching goldfinches and chickadees flutter through your garden, Black Oil sunflowers are a must-grow. Their seeds are packed with energy and attract a wide variety of birds. Plus, the blooms themselves are a pollinator magnet, drawing bees and butterflies with their sunny charm. Harvest the seeds for roasting, or leave them for your feathered visitors to enjoy.
To Full Size
🌞 Choose a Sunny Spot: Plant in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil.
🌱 Sow the Seeds: Direct sow ½ inch deep, spacing 6–12 inches apart.
💧 Water Consistently: Keep soil moist during germination and early growth.
🌿 Thin and Maintain: Thin seedlings to 12–18 inches apart once established.
✂️ Harvest: Cut flower heads when seeds are mature and dry. Hang to finish drying if needed.
