Helianthus annuus Sonja® | Sunflower

A professional cut flower sunflower with warm golden-orange blooms, strong stems and excellent branching – Sonja® is a beautiful and productive choice for bouquets, flower farms and cutting gardens.

Helianthus annuus Sonja® is an outstanding cut flower variety valued for its warm golden-orange flowers, well-branched growth and excellent vase life.

The flowers are smaller and more refined than those of many traditional garden sunflowers, reaching approximately 10 cm in diameter. Their manageable size makes Sonja® particularly useful for bouquets and floral arrangements, where oversized sunflower heads can sometimes be difficult to combine with other flowers.

Plants grow to approximately 110 cm tall and develop multiple flowering stems, providing several harvestable flowers from each plant. The strong, upright stems and attractive flower proportions make Sonja® an excellent choice for both professional cut flower production and home cutting gardens.

Sonja® is an open-pollinated annual variety.

Why Choose Sonja®?

• Beautiful golden-orange flowers
• Excellent professional cut flower variety
• Well-branched growth habit
• Produces multiple flowering stems
• Compact flower size ideal for bouquets
• Flowers approximately 10 cm across
• Strong stems for cutting
• Excellent vase life
• Ideal for succession sowing
• Open-pollinated variety
• Easy and fast to grow from seed

Plant Information

• Botanical name: Helianthus annuus
• Common name: Sunflower
• Variety: Sonja®
• Flower colour: Golden orange
• Flower size: Approx. 10 cm
• Plant height: Approx. 110 cm
• Growth habit: Upright, well branched
• Life cycle: Annual
• Days to maturity: Approx. 70–85 days
• Exposure: Full sun
• Seed form: Raw seed
• Hybrid status: Open pollinated
• Use: Cut flowers, bouquets, flower beds and cutting gardens

Sowing

Direct Sowing

Direct sowing is recommended. Sow outdoors after the last spring frost once the soil has warmed.

Sow approximately 1–1.5 cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny position.

Under suitable conditions, germination generally takes approximately 5–14 days at 18–24°C.

For a continuous supply of flowers throughout summer, make succession sowings every 2–3 weeks.

Sowing for Transplanting

For an earlier harvest, seeds can be started indoors approximately 2–3 weeks before planting outdoors.

Sow one seed per cell or small pot. Transplant after approximately two true leaves have developed and the danger of frost has passed.

Sunflowers dislike root disturbance, so avoid allowing seedlings to become root-bound.

Growing & Care

Sonja® performs best in full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

Water regularly, particularly while plants are establishing and during prolonged dry periods. Avoid allowing plants to dry out excessively during active growth and flower development.

Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which can encourage overly vigorous foliage growth and reduce flower quality.

Because Sonja® develops a naturally well-branched plant, provide sufficient space for the lateral flowering stems to develop.

Pinching

For cut flower production, young plants can be pinched to encourage additional branching and longer usable side stems.

This can be particularly useful when the goal is to produce multiple bouquet-sized flowers from each plant.

Harvesting for Cut Flowers

Sonja® was selected specifically for its excellent qualities as a cut sunflower.

Harvest when the petals are beginning to open and the golden-orange colour is clearly visible. Cutting at this stage provides an attractive flower while allowing further opening in the vase.

Cut stems preferably early in the morning or during the cooler part of the day and place them immediately into clean water.

One of Sonja®'s key advantages is its good vase life, making it particularly suitable for professional flower growers, florists and market bouquets.

Succession Sowing

Sonja® reaches maturity in approximately 70–85 days, depending on growing conditions and season.

For a continuous harvest, sow new batches every 2–3 weeks during spring and early summer. This provides a steady supply of fresh stems rather than one large flush of flowers.

Perfect For

• Professional cut flower production
• Flower farms
• Cutting gardens
• Florist work
• Market bouquets
• Summer bouquets
• Late-summer arrangements
• Flower beds and borders
• Pollinator-friendly gardens

Helianthus annuus Sonja® is an excellent choice for growers looking for a sunflower designed with floristry in mind. Its warm golden-orange colour, approximately 10 cm flowers, productive branching habit, strong stems and excellent vase life make it a reliable and versatile variety for beautiful summer bouquets.