Sunflower Lemon Queen seeds - Helianthus annuus

The 'Lemon Queen' Sunflower, whose botanical name is Helianthus annuus 'Lemon Queen', is an annual plant with rapid growth. Its numerous floral stems reach between 150 and 180cm (59 and 71in) and produce about twenty flowers per plant throughout the flowering season.
From July to September, this Garden Sunflower presents a magnificent lemon yellow flowering with a black centre.

Its flowers resemble giant daisies with a diameter of 10 to 12cm (4 to 5in). Its flowering inevitably catches the eye of visitors. The numerous stems will provide you abundantly with the flowers you need to create your splendid summer bouquets.

This magnificent flowering spreads from July to September. However, we recommend staggered sowing to enjoy beautiful and young flowers regularly and until autumn.
The leaves, 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) in size, cordate or lanceolate and dentate, are medium green in colour.

To enjoy your Sunflower bouquets for a longer time, follow these tips:

• Cut the flowers in the morning just after they have opened. Use a knife that has been thoroughly cleaned beforehand.
• Remove the leaves from the bottom, leaving only 2 or 3 leaves below the flower.
• Change the water in the vase with fresh water every day.

In the garden, sow the 'Lemon Queen' Sunflower at the back of a flower bed, where it will majestically dominate the other flowers and illuminate the bed with its tender colour. Sunflowers love sunny spots and rich, fresh soil.
Before flowering, the plant optimizes its growth by following the course of the sun. This phenomenon, called heliotropism, has given rise to some of its common names: Héliotrope, Tournesol, Sunflower, Garden Sun.

Sunflower in the kitchen:

The buds, petals, and seeds are edible. Add a few petals to a green salad for colour contrast and their nutty taste. The green buds can be blanched and then sautéed in garlic butter. Their flavor is similar to that of Jerusalem artichoke. The flesh of the seed can be eaten raw or roasted.

An ecological asset:
Throughout summer, the nectar-rich flowers of Sunflowers attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. This is a great way to improve the ecosystem of your garden and promote the production of fruits and vegetables in your vegetable patch.
The oil-rich seeds are particularly appreciated by birds (Parrots, Tits, etc.). At the end of flowering, harvest them to make some creatures happy during the winter scarcity.