Helianthus ‘Happy Days’

Showy mid- to late-summer blooming

The cheerful golden yellow flowers of Happy Days sunflower (Helianthus ‘Happy Days’) should brighten your garden during the waning days of summer (USDA hardiness zones 5-9).

This perennial sunflower has a long 4 to 6 week blooming period. In its first season new plants grow 24-30 inches tall and almost as wide. In subsequent years, tack on an additional 12-18 inches in height. Its small size makes it a good choice for a sunny garden  or container.

Helianthus ‘Happy Days’ produces long lasting 3 to 4 inch diameter golden yellow flowers. In the spring the plant forms an upright mound of broad lanceolate dark-green leaves. Floral stems arise with double anemone-like centers and short ray petals around the base. No staking is needed as flower stems are sturdy.

Happy Days sunflowers are at their best on an open, well-drained sunny site (minimum 5 hours of direct sunlight) and on moist, compost-rich, well-drained soils. Feed at planting time or in early spring with slow release fertilizer (examples: Osmocote™, Nutrikote™, or Milorganite™).

Cut old dead stems back to the ground in late fall or leave for winter interest. Every 3-4 years sunflowers form dense clumps that are best divided while still dormant in early spring. Digging and dividing old clumps greatly improves plant vigor.

Flowers are excellent for cutting. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds; rabbits usually leave sunflowers alone. Disease and insect problems are rare when sunflowers are properly sited. Sunflowers perform poorly winter soils are constantly wet or soggy.