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Sunflower lemon queen, is it reliably perennial?

robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
in Plants
I've got some seed I ordered for the sunflower variety Lemon Queen that I thought was supposed to be perennial. I had some growing the year before last that did not do very well so I was not surprised when nothing grew up from where I planted them in the garden. Last year I found that I did a better job of getting them established and had some good strong healthy sunflower plants with good flowers and lots of seeds for the birds and some I collected myself. I would have hoped to see some of these come back to life this spring and start to sprout up some new shoots like my Jerusalem artichoke are doing but no sign of any life at all so far. Is it too early or is it that getting them to become perennial from seed grown plants needs a bit more effort than simply letting them in the ground once the top growth dies back in autumn. Any information much appreciated.

Happy gardening!
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Helianthus "Lemon Queen" is reliably perennial here. It didn't flower terribly well last year but I think that was down to the excessively dry weather right through from spring to autumn (established plants didn't get watered). I bought one plant originally and it's been repeatedly split so now I have large clumps of it and I've given away loads. It's just starting to show new growth from ground level now. If you lived near me I'd give you a clump.

    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    edited April 2023
    I know it may sound silly but I have seen lemon queen on both perennial and annual sunflowers, so I'd check it is the former first (annual variety has much larger flowers). Normally the perennial type is sold as plants rather than seed and it should be hardy. I don't grow it but do grow the willow leafed sunflower, helianthus salicifolius, and it is showing new growth but my jerusalem artichokes haven't broke the surface yet, so you might be a little early.   
  • robairdmacraignilrobairdmacraignil Posts: 782
    thevictorian said:
    I know it may sound silly but I have seen lemon queen on both perennial and annual sunflowers, so I'd check it is the former first (annual variety has much larger flowers). Normally the perennial type is sold as plants rather than seed and it should be hardy. I don't grow it but do grow the willow leafed sunflower, helianthus salicifolius, and it is showing new growth but my jerusalem artichokes haven't broke the surface yet, so you might be a little early.   

    I was not aware that there was an annual variety with the same name and that sounds like the most likely explanation for what I have been growing as I have seen nothing to indicate an underground overwintering part of the plant like there is with the Jerusalem artichoke. Guess I'll give it another few weeks and then try dig up the base of one of the dead plants from last year to see if there is any sign of life. Bit disappointing that it was not made clear by the seed seller website that it was not the perennial Lemon Queen sunflower but with the large flowers it was probably too good to be true. Thanks for your help.
    Happy gardening!
    https://www.youtube.com/user/sustainableveg/videos
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree, there can be some confusion about the Lemon Queen varieties being annual or perennial. 
    I bought mine as a plant several years ago and it has been divided and placed in various areas around the garden.
    Ironically it seems happier in a slightly shaded position where it avoids the midday sun,  but it has always been reliable (so far :) ).
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    edited April 2023
    I wasn't aware that there was an annual variety with the same name. The perennial one has fairly small flowers (compared to an annual sunflower).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    This is the annual one @JennyJ

    https://www.premierseedsdirect.com/product/flower-sunflower-lemon-queen/
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I had the perennial version in my last garden - fertile loam on a clay base - in Belgium so plenty of sun in summer but also lots of rain.  It grew to 180cm to 2m tall and spread well.  https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/helianthus-lemon-queen 

    I brought some with me to this garden which is hotter and drier and only had beds in pplaces with poorer soil.  It only gets to about 1m tall in its current location so I'll be trying some in richer soil now we have created new beds in former cow pasture.
    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
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Mine get to about 1.5 m normally. Last year, not much over a metre and didn't flower as well as usual. They still spread though and the clumps are coming up bigger now. At RHS Harlow Carr theirs get to a good 2 m, only an hour or so drive away but higher altitude, wetter and cooler climate and richer soil than us.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    We grow the annual one,big traditional sunflowers. I had never heard of a perennial variety 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have grown the perennial for years in a south facing border. There have been times when I have had to use water from the butts to keep it going but most years it is fine.
    Every Autumn after flowering I cut it back, dig it up and split each piece into three.
    One is replanted and the rest passed to gardening friends. This has been a positive approach, never needs staking as splitting it means it doesn't get so tall.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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