Sunflowers · fresh-cut care
Sunflowers are cheerful, sturdy and thirsty. Those big faces sit on thick, hairy stems that drink a surprising amount of water, and keeping the vase full is most of the job.
A cut sunflower usually lasts about a week. The heads are heavy, so they do best in a vase deep enough to support the stems, and they like a bright room that reminds them of a summer field — just not the hot sun itself.
Keep the vase full
Check the water every day and top it off. Sunflowers can drink the vase down to the bottom faster than you would expect, especially in the first couple of days.
Change the water completely every two days. The fuzzy stems foul water quickly, and cloudy water is what shortens their life.
When your flowers arrive
- Fill a sturdy, deep vase with cool water, and add flower food if a packet came with them.
- Pull off every leaf that would sit below the water. Sunflower leaves rot quickly in water.
- Trim an inch from each stem at an angle with sharp shears and get them right into the water.
- If your sunflowers came arranged, just top off the water and check it daily.
Where to put them
Bright light keeps the faces lifted. Heat makes them droop.
- A bright room, out of direct sun, is ideal.
- Keep them away from heat vents and sunny windows in summer.
- Use a vase heavy enough not to tip. The heads are top-heavy.
- Keep them away from the fruit bowl.
Everyday care
Sunflowers
Helianthus annuus
- Vase life
- About six to ten days.
- Water
- A lot. Top off daily and change it completely every two days.
- Stems
- Trim an inch at an angle every couple of days. Thick stems need sharp shears.
- Flower food
- Helps keep the water clear and the petals bright.
- Leaves
- Strip any below the water line. Remove some upper leaves too if they wilt first.
- Watch for
- A head that bows over. Check the water first.
Sunflowers are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs, but chewing on them or drinking the vase water with flower food can upset a stomach. Keep them out of reach. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Quick fixes
Heads drooping
Usually the vase ran low. Refill, re-cut the stems and give them an hour.
Leaves wilting and curling
Pull them off. The flowers stay fresher with fewer leaves to feed.
Cloudy, smelly water
Change it, wash the vase and re-cut the stems.
Yellow petals dropping
The flower is aging, or the room is warm. Move it somewhere cooler.
Pollen on the table
Some sunflowers shed pollen. Set the vase on a mat and wipe it up dry.
Vase tipping over
The heads are heavy. Use a heavier or deeper vase.
Common questions
How long do cut sunflowers last?
Usually about a week, sometimes a little longer in a cool room.
Why are my sunflowers drooping?
Most often they ran out of water. Refill the vase and re-cut the stems.
Do sunflowers need a lot of water?
Yes. They are among the thirstiest cut flowers. Check the vase every day.
Should I remove sunflower leaves?
Remove every leaf below the water line, and any that wilt.
More flower care guides
Vase Arrangements
Fresh flowers in water
Fresh water every other day, a fresh cut on the stems, and a cool spot out of the sun.
Read the guide →Gerbera Daisies
Gerbera jamesonii
Shallow, very clean water and a fresh cut keep the stems straight.
Read the guide →Carnations
Dianthus caryophyllus
One of the longest-lasting cut flowers. Cut between the joints and keep the water fresh.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com