• Branching
  • Annual
  • Red
  • Single

Velvet Queen

Annual branching sunflower in red, burgundy, and orange, blooming in midsummer, late summer, and fall. Single flowers up to 8 inches across with velvety red to mahogany petals and a dark center, several per branching plant. Grown as an annual in every zone.

Single source

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A Velvet Queen sunflower flower up close on the plant
A Velvet Queen sunflower flower up close on the plant

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Velvet Queen sunflower plants in bloom in a garden
Velvet Queen sunflower plants in bloom in a garden

At a glance

Flower form
Branching Single · 8 in (20 cm)
Colors
  • Red
  • Burgundy
  • Orange
Blooms
Midsummer, Late summer, Fall 55–110 days from sowing
Vase life
Not grown for cutting
Height
5–7 ft (152–213 cm)
Sunlight
Full sun
Hardiness
Grown as an annual in every zone Annual
Planted as
Seed
Botanical name
Helianthus annuus

In the garden

  • Occasionally severely damaged by deer (Rutgers rating)

Find your frost dates and zone by ZIP code

Origin

Open-pollinated heirloom branching sunflower.

Sources

Where to buy

Prices rechecked daily
  • True Leaf MarketSeeds

    2 g Packet

    Check availability

    $2.99Checked Oct 14, 2026

We may earn a commission when you buy through these links. Your price stays the same. Prices checked Oct 14, 2026.

All photos

  • A Velvet Queen sunflower flower up close on the plant
    A Velvet Queen sunflower flower up close on the plant
  • Velvet Queen sunflower plants in bloom in a garden
    Velvet Queen sunflower plants in bloom in a garden

Questions

Is Velvet Queen hardy in my zone?

Velvet Queen is an annual: it flowers and sets seed in one season, so hardiness zone decides when to plant it, not whether it survives winter.

Does Velvet Queen need full sun?

Velvet Queen grows in full sun.

When does Velvet Queen bloom?

Velvet Queen blooms in midsummer, late summer, and fall, about 55–110 days from sowing.

Is Velvet Queen good for cutting?

Our sources don't list Velvet Queen as a cut flower or give a vase life for it.

See also

See all →
A Claret sunflower flower up close on the plant Claret Pollen-free F1 sunflower with dark reddish-brown blooms on bushy plants. BranchingMidsummerMedium height
A Jade sunflower flower up close on the plant Jade Pollenless branching sunflower with pale greenish white petals and lime-green centers. BranchingEarly summerMedium height
A Kong sunflower flower up close on the plant Kong F1 hybrid giant sunflower 13 to 14 feet tall, branching, with heads up to 10 inches golden yellow heads. BranchingEarly summerTall
A Lemon Queen sunflower flower up close on the plant Lemon Queen Branching sunflower 5 to 7 feet tall with lemon yellow flowers and brown centers. BranchingEarly summerMedium height

Same colors

See all →
A ProCut Red sunflower flower up close on the plant ProCut Red Pollenless single-stem F1 cut sunflower with deep red 3–6 inch flowers. Single stemMidsummerMedium height
A Strawberry Blonde sunflower flower up close on the plant Strawberry Blonde Pollenless F1 branching sunflower, burgundy to pink petals with lemon tips. BranchingMidsummerMedium height
A Evening Sun sunflower flower up close on the plant Evening Sun Multi-branching sunflower with 4–6 inch blooms in red, orange and burgundy. BranchingMidsummerTall
A Firecracker sunflower flower up close on the plant Firecracker F1 branching sunflower, 36–46 in. tall, with pollenless red and gold flowers. BranchingMidsummerMedium height

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