Beach sunflower 'Vanilla ice'

60 Seeds

Beach Sunflower 'Vanilla Ice' is a fast-growing ornamental sunflower that produces soft creamy-yellow to pale vanilla flowers with dark centers. It is highly tolerant of heat, drought, wind, and sandy soils, making it an excellent choice for Gulf gardens, coastal landscapes, borders, pots, and pollinator gardens. It attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Best Planting Time

• October to February (recommended)
• In cooler Gulf regions, sowing can continue into March.
• Avoid sowing during the hottest summer months.

Seed Preparation

• No soaking is required.
• Optional: Soak seeds in lukewarm water (25°C) for 4–6 hours to speed germination.
• No cold stratification is needed.

Soil Preparation

Use light, well-drained soil with moderate fertility.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Garden soil
• 30% Compost
• 20% Coco peat
• 10% Perlite or coarse sand

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–7.5

Sowing Method

• Sow directly into the garden or large pots.
• Plant seeds 1–2 cm deep.
• Place 1–2 seeds per hole, then thin to the strongest seedling.
• Direct sowing is preferred because sunflowers dislike root disturbance.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 20–28°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 20–35°C
• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Full sun produces the best flowering.

Watering

• Keep the soil lightly moist during germination.
• After establishment, water deeply when the top 3–5 cm of soil becomes dry.
• This variety is drought tolerant once established.
• Avoid waterlogged soil.

Germination Time

• 7–14 days

Plant Spacing

• 30–45 cm between plants.
• 45–60 cm between rows.

Flowering

• Begins approximately 60–80 days after sowing.
• Remove faded flowers regularly to encourage continuous blooming.
• Flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Fertilization

• Incorporate compost before planting.
• Feed with a balanced flowering fertilizer every 4 weeks.
• Avoid excessive nitrogen, which encourages foliage instead of flowers.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Grow during the cool season for the longest flowering period.
• Water early in the morning.
• Apply mulch to conserve soil moisture.
• Ensure good air circulation.
• Monitor for aphids, caterpillars, whiteflies, spider mites, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.
• Beach Sunflower 'Vanilla Ice' performs beautifully in coastal gardens, borders, containers, sandy landscapes, rock gardens, and pollinator gardens throughout the Gulf.