Sunflower Paquito Colorado seeds - Helianthus annuus

The Dwarf Sunflower 'Paquito Colorado' is a two-tone variety of Helianthus annuus of modest size, forming a compact plant with numerous branches, in a bushy shape. It produces long-lasting flowers with petals in two colours: reddish-brown towards the centre and golden yellow at the tips during summer. This annual reveals its first flowers just 60 days after sowing. It adapts perfectly to container or pot culture, as well as to embellishing low beds, borders, and sunny rockeries. By attracting bees and pollinating insects, it becomes a true ecological asset for the vegetable garden. It is easily sown in spring, directly in the ground, in well-drained garden soil.

Helianthus annuus is none other than the famous sunflower cultivated on a large scale for the oil extracted from its seeds. This tall annual plant from the Asteraceae family, domesticated by humans for a long time, has a controversial origin, but it is native to the American continent. The hybrid variety 'Paquito Colorado' is a dwarf horticultural development. It forms a well-branched tuft not exceeding 50 cm in all directions. Flowering generally begins in early July and can last until the end of September with 13 to 15 cm in diameter flower heads composed of a corolla of reddish-brown and golden-yellow ligulate petals, surrounding a darker central disc. In optimal conditions, there are 8 weeks between sowing and the start of flowering. The floral stems are short, strong, and well-branched. The foliage consists of fairly dark green, simple, cordate (heart-shaped) leaves, toothed at the edges, alternate, sometimes opposite at the base. They are joined to the stem by a longer or shorter petiole and are rough to the touch.

The 'Paquito Colorado' sunflower is ideal for introducing children to gardening thanks to its easy cultivation, large seeds that are easy to sow, and its modest size. Perfect for embellishing balconies, flower beds, and vegetable gardens, it attracts many beneficial insects for the gardener. This countryside sunflower thrives simply in the sun and in moderately dry soil. It naturally integrates into the wild areas of the garden, in harmony with flowers like cosmos, sainfoin, sweet peas, scabious, blanket flowers.

Before flowering, the plant optimises its growth by following the sun's path. This phenomenon, called heliotropism, has given rise to some of its common names: Heliotrope, Sunflower, Garden Sun...

An ecological asset: Throughout the summer, the honey-producing flowers of Sunflowers attract pollinating insects and butterflies to your garden. A good way to improve the ecosystem and promote fruit and vegetable production in your garden. The oil-rich seeds are particularly appreciated by birds (parrots, tits, doves, goldfinches, siskins, nuthatches, finches...). At the end of flowering, harvest them for the winter scarcity.