Helianthus annuus Desire Red F1

Helianthus annuus 'Desire Red F1' is a variety of sunflower appreciated for its long-lasting red flowers, as well as its compact and well-branched vegetation. It has abundant and early flowering, with new flowers continuously appearing on several branches from mid-summer to autumn. The beautiful flowers perfectly complement the dark green foliage slightly tinged with purple. Its low growth habit makes it ideal for container gardening or adding colour to summer flower beds and vegetable gardens. It is very easy to sow this variety, and it poses no problems when exposed to sunlight and grown in rich and moist soil.

The 'Desire Red F1' sunflower is an annual plant that can be sown in March-April in pots, or in May-June directly in the ground after the frost, to achieve flowering from July to September. With its sturdy stems and vibrant flowers, this variety is perfect for cut flowers. Its beautiful flowers last several days after being cut. The inflorescences consist of a bright red corolla surrounding a brownish centre, and they are very attractive to pollinating insects.

The hybrid variety 'Desire Red F1' is a dwarf horticultural creation from the seed company Burpee, an American company founded by Washington Atlee Burpee in Pennsylvania in 1876. In early 2023, it was awarded the Gold Medal Fleuroselect 2024 in the UK, a highly coveted distinction for innovation, beauty, and performance in the garden. It forms a well-branched clump that does not exceed 60cm (24in) in height. Flowering usually begins in July and can continue until October. It has a 13 to 15cm (5 to 6in) diameter head, composed of a corolla of bright red petals or ligules, slightly marked with yellow at their bases, surrounding a central brown disc where numerous fertile florets are packed, which will produce seeds after pollination. Under the best conditions, it takes 12 weeks from sowing to the start of flowering. The floral stems are short, sturdy, and well-branched. The foliage consists of fairly dark green, simple, cordate (heart-shaped), dentate-edged leaves, alternately arranged, sometimes opposite at the base. They are attached to the stem by a more or less long petiole and have a rough texture.

Its ease of cultivation, large easy-to-germinate seeds, and reasonable size make it very popular with children who are learning the joys of gardening. The 'Desire Red' sunflower is particularly suitable for balcony and flower bed decoration, as well as for adding beauty to the vegetable garden, where it attracts many beneficial animals. It only requires sunlight and moderately moist soil to thrive effortlessly. It has a rustic appearance and as such, it blends well in slightly wild areas of the garden, alongside Cosmos, sainfoin, perennial sweet peas, Scabiosa, Gaillardia, and more.

Sunflowers in the kitchen: The buds, petals, and seeds are edible. Add a few petals to a green salad for colour contrast and a nutty flavour. The green buds can be blanched and then sautéed in garlic butter. They have a flavour similar to that of Jerusalem artichokes. The seed kernels can be consumed raw or roasted.

An ecological asset: Throughout the summer, the melliferous flowers of sunflowers attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. This is a good way to improve the ecosystem and promote fruit and vegetable production in your vegetable garden.
The oil-rich seeds are particularly appreciated by birds (parrots, tits, doves, goldfinches, siskins, nuthatches, finches, etc.). At the end of flowering, harvest them to bring joy to hungry birds during the winter.