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Helianthus Lemon Queen

Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
in Problem solving
I have grown several of these plants from seed, and they are now about a foot tall.
Should I pinch out the growing tip to allow it to ‘branch out’ or do I leave it and it will sort itself out.  It is my understanding that they have multiple flowers at one time.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I have never pinched out mine and they have always been fine.  In my last garden in Belgium they flowered quite late but very well and spread well too.

    Here where it is hotter and drier they flower earlier but grow shorter than the 2m I had before and don't spread as fast.  This info may help you - https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/79853/helianthus-lemon-queen/details 

     
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    It's confusing with names as most know lemon queen as a perrenial sunflower but it can also apply to a annual sunflower which does have multiple flowers. I don't think you need to pinch them out either way but if you can let everyone know which one it is that might change the advice. 
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    If it's the perennial type, l wouldn't bother pinching out, however if it's the annual type as @thevictorian says then different rules may apply. Must admit l didn't know that there was an "annual version".
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you all for your replies.  I did not know there was an annual version either!
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I think the lemon queen annual version is just because someone found a nice lemony coloured sunflower. It's one I've grown for the last few years and it definitely isn't perennial and the flowers are far far larger. The confusing thing is that the perennial lemon queen is normally listed as helianthus annuus, which suggests it is an annual but I know it's a hybrid. It just really confusing with common names especially as if someone says lemon queen I instantly think perennial even though I grow an annual version. Both are nice plants however.   
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