Helianthus annuus 'Autumn Beauty'
‘Autumn Beauty’ is a branching selection of the common sunflower grown as a color mix. Plants carry many stems with long bloom over summer. Shades range from gold to bronze to mahogany. It performs best in full sun with moderate fertility. It is grown as an annual in North America. Stems are useful for informal cut flowers.
At‑a‑glance
- Group/Class: Annual sunflower cultivar
- Height × spread: 5-7 ft × 2-3 ft (1.5-2.1 m × 0.6-0.9 m)
- Bloom window: mid summer to fall
- Color & flower form: mix of single to semi‑double flowers in yellow, bronze, mahogany; 6-8 in (15-20 cm)
- Fragrance: 1 trace
- USDA hardiness: grown as annual in all USDA zones
- Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
- Cut‑flower notes: branching habit gives many usable stems; typical vase life 6-12 days in clean water depending on cultivar and care
- Pet safety: safe
How it differs
- Branching habit with extended bloom versus single‑stem forms
- Multicolor palette rather than uniform yellow
- Multiple medium heads instead of one giant head
Strengths
- Long display with repeated branching bloom
- Good for mixed bouquets
- Attracts bees and other pollinators
Care in one minute
- Site: full sun
- Soil: well‑drained soil with a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.8
- Water: deep, regular watering during dry spells
- Feeding: avoid high nitrogen to limit floppy growth
- Pinch: pinch once at 8-12 in tall to encourage branching
- Overwintering: not applicable; warm‑season annual in North America
Watch‑outs
- Color and flower form vary plant to plant
- Can lean if grown in rich soil without spacing
- Birds may feed on maturing seed
Best uses (tags)
cutting, borders, pollinators, cottage gardens
Provenance note
An open‑pollinated color mixture offered widely for decades; breeder and year are not confirmed.
References
- RHS Plant Finder: Helianthus annuus ‘Autumn Beauty’
- UMN Extension: Sunflowers
- NC State Cut Flowers: Postharvest trials overview
- ASPCA: Sunflower non‑toxic to pets
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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