Sunflower Velvet Queen Seeds – Heirloom Velvet-Red Branched Favorite

Ontario Grown
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Clear duties overview for US customers at checkout: Grand Seeds covers 50% tariffs on your order!

9 in stock In Stock - Shipped within 5 days

Contains about 1 gram of seeds

$1.95

SKU: GS-5401-SUN-DT

Free shipping on orders over $50 (in Canada)

Organicly grown

Non GMO

Description

Sunflower 'Velvet Queen' (Helianthus annuus) is a striking open-pollinated heirloom variety celebrated for its rich, velvety crimson-to-mahogany blossoms and free-branching habit. Growing into bushy, upright plants reaching 5 to 7 feet in height, a single central stem branches out into multiple long, sturdy stalks topped with 4- to 6-inch flower heads. The petals display deep shades of chestnut-red, burgundy, or burnt orange surrounding a dramatic dark chocolate-brown central disk. A standout choice for cut-flower gardens, living hedges, or bird-friendly landscapes, Velvet Queen provides a continuous supply of rich nectar for pollinators throughout late summer, followed by seed heads for foraging songbirds in early autumn.

Specifications

Plant Name: Sunflower 'Velvet Queen' (Helianthus annuus)
Cultivar Type: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated
Plant Class: Warm-Season Annual Flower
Color: Deep velvet crimson, mahogany, burgundy, dark chestnut-red, dark brown central seed disks
Plant Characteristics: Multi-branching upright habit (60–84 inches tall / 150–210 cm), sturdy stems, 4- to 6-inch blooms, high essential nectar, high seed yield
Suitable Space: Cutting garden plots, garden backdrops, living privacy screens, pollinator borders, vegetable perimeter rows
Season: Midsummer through Autumn (Warm-Season Annual, ~75–85 Days to Maturity)
Best Time for Sowing (Zone 6b): Direct sow outdoors late May to early June once soil temperatures consistently exceed 18°C (65°F), all frost danger passed. Sow seeds 0.5 to 1 inch deep, spaced 6 inches apart, thin seedlings to 18–24 inches apart. Alternatively, start indoors in deep biodegradable peat pots or soil blocks late April to early May (avoid taproot disturbance during transplanting).
Sunlight: Full Sun (6+ hours direct sunlight daily required for intense red color expression, strong stems)
Watering Needs: Low to Moderate (requires steady moisture to establish; once rooted, highly heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant)
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What is included?

Contains about 1 gram of seeds

Check out the growing specs for the specific organic heirloom seeds you bought.

Good to know

Multi-branching habit yields dozens of long-stemmed, rich burgundy cut flowers per plant over an extended season
Striking dark crimson palette provides dramatic contrast to traditional golden-yellow sunflower varieties
High nectar, pollen production supports native bees, honeybees, butterflies late into growing season

Requires full, direct sunlight to achieve deepest dark red color tones; shade causes petals to turn muted, orange-tinged
Stately height (up to 7 feet) may require wind protection, light staking on exposed high-wind garden perimeters

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